How the Adelaide live music scene will recover and evolve after COVID-19
Adelaide’s live music scene has been devastated by lockdowns but local musos are raring to get back on stage. Plenty of things will be different for fans in the new era of gigs – find out what here.
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- Part 1: The changes in store for pubs, restaurants and cafes
- Part 2: How shopping will be different as stores reopen
- Part 3: No more mingling – the evolution in our offices
Adelaide’s musical landscape is sure to look different post-COVID-19, from venue to venue, festival to festival.
But a bunch of industry heavy-hitters all agree on who will benefit most after the great music shutdown of 2020: local musos.
After being largely housebound for months, punters will be salivating for any kind of live music, despite access to international and national acts likely to be greatly diminished.
The live scene will change, with temperature checks, staff decked out in rubber gloves and punters entering and exiting through different doors set to be a common sight.
The Federal Government shone some sunlight on the gloomy picture last Friday, floating the possibility of gatherings of up to 100 people in coming months.
It lifted the spirits of The Grace Emily publican Symon Jarowyj. “One hundred people is very workable,” says Jarowyj, who has considered reopening the pub as a cafe in the meantime.
He says the iconic haunt will likely take a “local band-only approach” when the doors finally reopen.
“We’re getting so much support from patrons, saying they will be back when we reopen,” he says.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 arrived in Adelaide at exactly the wrong time, immediately after a traditional downturn in patronage during The Fringe.
“We were looking forward to getting back to normal. But everyone’s in the same position, we’re all up the shit,” Jarowyj says.
The Fringe is a big reason why The Exeter manager Dan Boundy is relatively bullish about the future.
“(Mad March) left us in a good position to get through a couple of months,” Boundy says.
“We should be ready to go (when restrictions ease).”
The Crown and Anchor is also expecting a surge in demand in coming months.
“We’re lucky enough to host mostly local and up-and-coming bands, not just touring acts ... meaning we can put on gigs sooner than most,” pub spokesman Jack Fenby says.
However, one of Adelaide’s most treasured venues, The Gov, is facing a more uncertain future, with owner Brian Tonkin estimating it can survive only another four months without patrons.
“It’s very, very bleak. We don’t make money. The musicians make the money. We’ve never been a commercial venue,” Tonkin says.
Border controls will also make it difficult for The Gov to continue its tradition of attracting acts from across the globe.
Meanwhile, the Lion Arts Factory on North Tce is in a curious position: unlikely to rebound quickly despite a strong bottom line.
If the venue reopens while travel restrictions remain, up to 40 per cent of its usual attractions – visiting international acts – would be wiped out.
Fortunately, its financial status has been shored up by other business interests, including the Laneway and Spinoff festivals.
“But the longer it goes on, the more you’re losing and you’re running the risk of not being able to properly operate when you do open up again,” says managing director Craig Lock.
Thebarton Theatre creative development manager Martha Lott says allowing fewer than 100 punters in makes little financial sense.
“It would not generate enough money to warrant the doors opening,” Lott says, although she is optimistically plotting a September reopening for the 2000-capacity venue.
“(And) there would be border controls. Can you actually get acts into the state?”
Music festivals face a darker future with the emerging Porchland no guarantee of returning in November. Founder Sharni Honour says she must make a call about the 2020 event very soon: “We’re cutting it fine at the moment to be honest, it’s a matter of weeks.”
Meanwhile, Umbrella Festival has been postponed until late September.
“Mass gatherings will be one of the last restrictions (to be lifted), so we’re a little bit nervous,” Music SA chief executive Lisa Bishop says.
“It depends on the capacity of the venue (at each gig). I don’t have a crystal ball. (But) cancellation of Umbrella Festival is still on the cards.”
READ MORE
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No more mingling – office culture will be different post-COVID