Musicians throw support behind $35 million lifeline for live music

The Preatures join the fight for more support for live music in Sydney, backing a NSW Labor $35 million rescue plan.

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After playing in front of 1000 screaming fans last night, Sydney indie darlings The Preatures were back on stage at the Coogee Bay Hotel to throw their weight behind a $35 million lifeline for live music.

Frontwoman Isabella ‘Izzi’ Manfredi said The Preatures had been playing for 10 years and it was always tough; “but after lockout laws they (live music acts) fell like dominos,” she said.

Isabella 'Izzi' Manfredi (second from left) with other The Preachers band members Thomas Champion, Jack Moffitt and Luke Davison. Picture: Toby Zerna

Despite a NSW parliamentary report into music and arts last year finding the live music scene was in crisis due to too many restrictions, the State Government this week moved to strengthen festival guidelines.

“There is no evidence to support music equals violence,” Mandredi said.

“In fact the government report found that music can quell, even stop violence.

“We’ve know this for a long time but we are not being listened to.”

The Preatures joined a big list of high profile music names throwing their support behind the Labor push to reignite the NSW music industry including Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner, The Rubens, Leah Flanagan and Rackett.

Comedian Matt Okine, who MC’d the Labor policy launch event, said: “When artists speak out that’s when we can change it”.

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley said 176 live music venues had closed in the past four years and now was the time for real action.

“I have been astounded at the gravity wave that has hit in the past week,” Mr Daley said of the backlash against the music festival crackdown that has seen the music industry rallying behind the Don’t Kill Live Music Protest at Hyde Park on Thursday at 6pm.

The who's who of the Australian music industry has joined the call for change under the Don’t Kill Live Music banner including Amy Shark, The Amity Affliction, Courtney Barnett and Vance Joy.

“I’ve had young people stop me in the street, they say the Berejiklian Government is at war with young people,” Mr Daley said.

Opposition spokesperson for Music John Graham said Labor “won’t have any part on the war on music” while Labor candidate for Newtown, Aunty Norma Ingram said: “People with music in their sole are the happiest people of all”.

Vance Joy is one of the high-profile musicians of the Australian music industry that has joined the call for change.

WHAT NSW LABOR IS PLEDGING

NSW Labor is pledging $35 million to support working musicians, including $4 million to support music festivals and events.

Labor will also introduce the principle of a Right to Play for musicians by amending the Liquor Act (2017) to sweep away outdated conditions and address bans and restrictions on live music.

“Labor’s policies to support live music venues will help rebuild Sydney as the premier destination on the national touring circuit,” Mr Daley said.

NSW Labor is also promising to:

· Establish a “Music Community” designation to recognise communities that have a strong music sector and value music. Labor will develop formal guidelines and a threshold to achieve the Music Community designation, and then work with local councils to support and promote these communities.

· Direct support for artists to record and tour, including internationally through a new $1.3 million “Music Passport” program; and regionally and nationally through a new $5.1 million “band aid” program

Opposition Leader Michael Daley at the Coogee Bay Hotel for the launch of NSW Labor's live music policy on February 15.

· Invest $4 million in supporting music festivals across NSW, including $700,000 to the Sydney fringe festival. Labor will also streamline the licensing process for music festivals and allow organisers with an established record to obtain multi-year approvals for festivals.

· Rebuild the suburban and regional touring circuit in NSW, with $1.3 million to support an “On the Road Again” program to take music industry promoters and booking agents on tour to regional venues and provide a substantial funding boost to the ‘Live and Local’ program.

· Create a home for the music sector in Sydney. It will include performance and rehearsal spaces, recording and writing studios, youth programming and community radio, with a contribution of up to $10 million.

· Increase total funding for contemporary music from under $4 million over the last four years of Liberal and National Government to $35 million.

· Establish a “Music Community” designation to recognise communities that have a strong music sector and value music. Labor will develop formal guidelines and a threshold to achieve the Music Community designation, and then work with local councils to support and promote these communities.

Isabella ‘Izzi’ Manfredi at the Coogee Bay Hotel for the launch of NSW Labor's live music policy.

Comedian Matt Okine MC’d the Labor policy launch event on February 15.

· Direct support for artists to record and tour, including internationally through a new $1.3 million “Music Passport” program; and regionally and nationally through a new $5.1 million “band aid” program

· Invest $4 million in supporting music festivals across NSW, including $700,000 to the Sydney fringe festival. Labor will also streamline the licensing process for music festivals and allow organisers with an established record to obtain multi-year approvals for festivals.

· Rebuild the suburban and regional touring circuit in NSW, with $1.3 million to support an “On the Road Again” program to take music industry promoters and booking agents on tour to regional venues and provide a substantial funding boost to the ‘Live and Local’ program.

· Create a home for the music sector in Sydney. It will include performance and rehearsal spaces, recording and writing studios, youth programming and community radio, with a contribution of up to $10 million.

FESTIVAL CRACKDOWN

Festival owners will have their events placed on an “extreme risk” watchlist if a patron dies from a drug overdose as the State Government moves to strengthen festival guidelines.

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