‘Lost confidence’: Festival promoters are pleading for help, as artists rally to support out-of-work roadies

Festival promoters fear losing millions of dollars as governments hold out on extending the insurance safety net against sudden COVID cancellations. Here’s what it means for the industry.

Festival promoters are losing confidence in staging events without the safety net of a government-backed insurance fund amid growing fears their COVIDSafe shows, greenlit by state governments, will still be shut down by authorities at the last minute.

Splendour In The Grass co-creator Jessica Ducrou said the cancellation of Bluesfest on the eve of the annual Easter festival after one local COVID case in Byron Bay was a “watershed moment” for the embattled live music industry.

While the 20-year-old Splendour has been moved from its usual winter dates in July to November in the hope the vaccination rollout will safeguard it against sudden cancellation, Ducrou said promoters face losing up to $10 million every time an event is shut down without a Business Interruption Fund.

Splendour in the Grass co-promoter Jessica Ducrou says the industry has lost confidence in shows going ahead. Picture: John Feder

The Federal Government gave the screen industry a $50 million insurance net last year, which allowed 41 film and TV productions to go ahead.

Opposition arts spokesman Tony Burke has backed the promoters’ desperate plea for assistance, launching a petition calling for the government to take immediate action on the fund as “jobs and livelihoods are at stake. Australian live music and entertainment needs this scheme to put on the big events and festivals that we know and love.”

Ducrou said the live music industry had “now lost confidence about being able to deliver a show.”

COVID has forced Splendour in the Grass to shift their 20th anniversary celebrations three times, now to November. Picture: Getty Images.

While she appreciated Splendour and other festivals should be subject to “harsher restrictions” than other industries opening up in the pandemic era, they also deserved the same treatment as sports and other community events such as the Royal Easter Show.

“If there is a chance they are going to shut an event down due to COVID, they should just say no at the start because it is more damaging to spend all that money and build a site in its entirety without having the safety net of an insurance policy,” Ducrou said.

Kate Ceberano is geared up to play the first Mundi Mundi Bash in August. Picture: Nathan Edwards/Supplied.

There are some who might think Greg Donovan is taking a big gamble in the pandemic era launching his new Mundi Mundi Bash which kicks off in Broken Hill with Kate Ceberano, Paul Kelly, Ian Moss, Tim Finn, John Williamson and more in August.

Donovan swung into action plotting the three day festival when his annual Big Red Bash in July last year was cancelled due to COVID shutdowns. It returns to Birdsville in Queensland this year with many of the same artists as Mundi Mundi.

“When the Big Red Bash was cancelled, we went from 2020 going to be our best year ever to being our worst year, so for all of our sanity, to keep our staff focused and have some light at the end of the tunnel, we got working on Mundi Mundi,” Donovan said.

“Being a new event, you think it unlikely you will completely sell out – we just wanted to be able to cover costs – but we’ve already sold more than 90 per cent of 10,000 tickets.

“You can get weather insurance but not COVID insurance, so I’ll be checking the weather forecasts and the COVID numbers every 20 minutes in the last couple of weeks before the festivals.”

Ceberano and Mundi Mundi founder Greg Donovan survey their new festival site. Picture: Nathan Edwards

The Mundi Mundi promoter said the Business Interruption Fund, which would safeguard him against losses of up to $5 million should his events be suddenly cancelled, could actually turn out to be a financial win for the government if the vaccination rollout proves effective against community transmission.

“The government will make more money in the long run bringing certainty to the industry. And there is a precedent when they set up the industry reinsurance bill to cover against terrorism attacks after 9/11, when businesses couldn’t get that insurance,” he said.

“They made a lot of money out of that because there were never any claims made against it.”

ARTISTS RALLY FOR OUT OF WORK ROADIES

To Missy Higgins and all of Australia’s touring performers, they are the unsung heroes of the gig.

She regards the team of people who build the stages, sound systems and lighting rigs for her shows as her road family, a tight-knit crew of highly skilled technicians who are essential to creating the magic of the concert.

So Higgins will join dozens of performers around the country for this year’s Roady4Roadies, a series of concerts on Sunday to spotlight not only their work but raise critical funds for those who have been out of a gig for the past year because of the pandemic shutdown.

“I have always felt the crew have a bit of a thankless job compared to us performers who get out on stage and get all the glory,” Higgins said.

“But it’s a really tough job, working crazy long hours and away from home months at a time. It takes its toll on mental and physical health.

“Then throw into the mix the past year with restrictions on live events, it’s just been devastating for so many music workers and their families who suddenly found themselves unable to make ends meet.”

Missy Higgins, centre, with Howard Freeman and Kait Hall. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Missy Higgins will perform at the Roady4Roadies event in Melbourne on Sunday. Picture: Rebecca Michael

One of her road family, lighting designer Kait Hall, has been working with Higgins since 2007.

Border closures have killed off all of Hall’s interstate work this year and she now faces the tough decision of whether to temporarily – or permanently – leave the live music industry or chew through her life’s savings to pay the bills.

“My calendar of work between January and March was full – after a year without work – but 100 per cent of that work was cancelled because of snap border closures,” Hall said.

“I have friends who have sold their house or had to move out of their homes, others who have got trade apprenticeships in their mid 40s because there is no interstate touring, which is where the majority of our income is generated.

“We need a national approach to borders because we can’t plan for anything at the moment.”

Caiti Baker will play at the Darwin Roady4Roadies gig. Picture: Duane Preston

The Godfather of Australian roadies Howard Freeman, who also co-founded CrewCare to address the mental health crisis in the industry, said Roady4Roadies was a chance for music fans to show respect and support those who make the magic of live music happen.

“This is about looking after family. Every time there is a crisis in Australia, this family gives you something back, they get out there and work to put on a gig to help people in trouble,” Freeman said.

“It’s time to give something back to them, so hit the road to support a roadie.”

For the full line-up of Roady4Roadies events, and buy tickets for $30 (including a T-shirt and face mask) check out www.roady4roadies.com/

ROADY4ROADIES 2021 EVENTS – SUNDAY, 11 APRIL 2021

ADELAIDE

Adelaide Entertainment Centre from 11:30am

Special Guests: Pigsy, Uncle Gilbert

BRISBANE

Brisbane Entertainment Centre from 10:30am

Special Guests: Bec Lavelle, Hussy Hicks, Oskar Campbell, Olivia Ruth

CENTRAL COAST

The Entrance Leagues Club from 11:00am

Special Guests: Lillye with Virginia Lillye and Welter

DARWIN

Darwin Entertainment Centre from 1:00pm

Special Guests: Caiti Baker, Serina Pech, DJ Kuya James (James Mangohig)

HOBART

The Salty Dog, Kingston Beach from 11:30am

Special Guests: Hugo Bladel, Monique Brumby, Brian Ritchie Trio, Boil Up and Jack Careless

MELBOURNE

Palais Theatre, St Kilda from 11:00am

Special Guests: Missy Higgins, Mark Seymour,

Davey Lane (You Am I)

Special Guest MC: Shane Jacobson

NEWCASTLE

Lizotte’s Newcastle from 4:30pm

Special Guests: Spy v Spy, Osprey, Giant, Justin Ngariki

PERTH

The Lucky Shag from 11:00am

Special Guests: Chris Murphy, Matt Gresham + Eric Weideman (1927)

SYDNEY

Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville from 11:30am

Special Guests: John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special, Ben Ransom, Mark Callahan & Buzz Bidstrup (GANGgajang), Ollie Bailey + Old Dog New Tricks

FRIDAY, 23 APRIL 2021

TOWNSVILLE

Flynn’s Irish Bar from 8:00pm

Special Guest: The Godfathers of Funk