Big Apachee isn’t just another Newcastle-based promoter and booking agency — it’s a battle-tested force in live music, run by Andrew Kelly and Marcus D Wright.

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Born in 1998 when Andrew and Marcus locked in, Big Apachee quickly carved out its reputation touring both local talent and international heavyweights, throwing large-scale events, and locking in artists and venues with precision.

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By 1999, they doubled down and launched their own crewing operation — a relentless machine that’s put hundreds to work and powered some of the biggest shows to hit the country. Big Apachee Crewing has been behind the scenes for a staggering lineup of acts and events, including Nickelback, Disturbed, Ace Frehley, Lionel Richie, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Queens of the Stone Age, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Leonard Cohen, Rihanna, Nine Inch Nails, Disney on Ice, Steely Dan, Grinspoon, Chris Isaak, Krusty Demons, Newcastle V8 Supercars — and that’s barely scratching the surface.

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Individually and as a unit, Andrew and Marcus have done it all — grinding through every corner of the music industry and coming out with the kind of experience you can’t fake.

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Marcus D Wright: 

Marcus “Dice” Wright came up loud in the early ’90s, slinging bass in Newcastle outfits The Sickmen, Pivet, and Shank’d—cutting his teeth on East Coast tours and sharing stages with bands he grew up on. Then he flipped the script, stepping offstage and into the engine room of the music industry.

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In ’94, he built The Music Production Factory from the ground up—a raw, working hub for bands to get loud and get heard. Teaming up with Andrew Kelly, he co-founded Reign Records in 2000, running it hard between Newcastle and Tokyo for a decade and backing 18 acts along the way.

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After merging forces in ’98, Wright and Kelly went all in. Today they run Big Apachee, Bigtix, and Big Apachee Crewing—powering tours and live shows for artists hitting both local stages and global circuits.

Dice has been backing artists since ’92—managing, mentoring, and making moves. He’s spent over a decade teaching Music Business at TAFE and helped build the Newcastle Music Taskforce from the beginning.

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Three decades deep and still pushing—no slowdown, no nostalgia trip. Just momentum, grit, and the sense that the biggest plays are still ahead.

 

 

Andrew Kelly:

One of Australia’s most well respected sound engineers, working with the likes of the Hilltop Hoods (nationally and internationally), Goons of Doom, Ain't That Swell and many many others. Member of Newcastle Music Taskforce, Promoter, booking agent, venue liaison, previously the tour manager for Soundwave, Handsome Tours, Select Touring and more, formerly the production manager for Newcastle University, production manager for Groovin The Moo. Andrew has extensive experience in all aspects of the industry.

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Carlie Lawler:
Carlie first joined Big Apachee back in 1998, right as Marcus and Andrew teamed up, both in the office and at the legendary Music Production Factory. After a break from the music scene to raise her family, she rejoined the Big Apachee crew in 2019 and has been keeping the team on their toes ever since.

Nicknamed the “Minister for Finances and Affairs,” Carlie manages the important day-to-day operations while overseeing three original bands. Her passion for live music shines through her extensive industry expertise and experience.

Known to “Get the deal done” Carlie’s high standards are unmatched—if you’re not on top of things, you’ll likely be met with her trademark “seriously?”

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WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

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Artists Toured:
Vapors Of Morphine, Wheatus, Smash Mouth, Eiffel 64, David Hasslehoff, LA Guns,  Sprung Monkey, Venga Boys, S Club, Special Beat, Bad Manners, Agent Orange, The Blanks, Neville Staple, The Beat, The Porkers, Sandi Thom, Everclear.

Big Apachee Events over the years;

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• 2020 - 2021  Wickham Park Blue & Roots Festival

• 2019 - 2021 Strike The Steel Metal Festival

• 2019 - Newcastle Rockabilly Festival

• 2018: Noisy Heeler Festival in association with Muswellbrook Council

• 2017: Neon New Year’s Eve in Association with Newcastle City Council

• 2017 – 2018: Newcastle Toy Run in association with the Red Cross

• 2015-16: New Year’s Eve Street Party in association with The Cambridge Hotel

• 2004 – 2018 Showdown at Sundown

• 2001 – Present: Supplying crewing services and production crew for Day on the Green.

• 1994 – 2010: Newcastle University Beach Parties

• 1998: Teepee Music Festival

• 1997,1998 & 1999: DOGBITE Festival in association with Maitland City Council