NSW Minister stops Hillsong shows, as parody ‘supergroup’ Thrillsong emerges

NSW Health has ordered Hillsong to immediately stop singing and dancing at their ‘summer camps’, after musicians vented their fury at what they see as double standards for the mega-church.

A young worshipper among the crowd at Hillsong Youth’s Wildlife Summercamp on January 12. Picture: Facebook

NSW Health has ordered Hillsong to immediately stop singing and dancing at its “summer camps” after musicians vented their fury at what they saw as double standards for the mega-church.

On Thursday, footage from a three-day Hillsong Youth’s Wildlife summer camp near Newcastle was widely circulated on social media, which showed large crowds of teenagers singing and dancing together beneath a tent at the Glenrock scout camp.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Hillsong was in “breach of both the spirit and intent of the order” and NSW Health had ordered the group to curb its camp activities.

“While the order does not apply to religious services, it does apply to major recreational facilities and this event is clearly in breach,” he said in a statement.

Wow. Love to post festival and gig postponements and cancelations while this is allowed to happen coz hillsong etc… https://t.co/hXDJdYOVV8pic.twitter.com/HlXtAzMn8x

— Lindsay McDowens (@doctormcdougall) January 13, 2022

Australian musicians’ frustration at double standards surrounding new restrictions on live concerts across NSW has been channelled into a piss-taking “supergroup” named Thrillsong.

Announced on social media on Thursday night, the group – featuring popular artists including Peking Duk, Lime Cordiale, Illy, the Jungle Giants and Montaigne – claims it is “ready to rock your congregation or roll your wedding as under NSW’s current public health orders these are the only places where audiences can legally sing and dance”.

Its name parodies the church organisation that attracted widespread music industry ire this week, after The Australian revealed new restrictions prohibiting singing and dancing at music events across NSW did not apply to its religious services.

On Sunday morning, NSW pastor Nathanael Wood led a service at the church’s Hills Convention Centre in Norwest, 35km northwest of Sydney. It concluded with an extended performance by devotional rock band Hillsong Worship, whose five singers and four instrumentalists ran through an extended version of its song That’s The Power before a masked congregation on its feet with arms raised. To all intents and purposes, it looked much like a rock concert you might find at a venue anywhere across NSW – except singing and dancing at such events is banned until January 27.

A Hillsong spokesperson responded to a request from The Australian on Tuesday, but did not provide a comment.

A statement accompanying Thrillsong’s announcement said: “We firmly support measures to protect our fans and communities and to safeguard our healthcare workers, we simply ask that if rules are made, they apply to everyone equally. We need to be in this together.”

“The double standards being shown by the Australian government around live entertainment events is absolutely buck wild,” pop singer-songwriter and Australia’s Eurovision 2021 representative Montaigne wrote on Twitter. “Takes my breath away, the brazen f..kery.”

On Tuesday, organisers of the nearby Hunter Valley music festival Grapevine Gathering announced the event on Saturday at Roche Estate could not proceed due to changes in NSW Health restrictions.

“This is a devastating blow not only to the live music industry, but also to regional tourism,” said the festival organisers in their statement on Tuesday afternoon. “A projected loss of over $5.2 million to the greater Hunter Valley region is expected from this cancellation.”

“Over 1400 jobs are now lost across our artists, food vendors, security, production crew, ticketing staff and more who were deep in preparation for the weekend,” said Grapevine Gathering organisers. “We appreciate your understanding and support for what is an incredibly sad day for live music.”

The press release introducing Thrillsong on Thursday night continued: “Meanwhile right now, as Covid cases this week soared to unprecedented heights and artists and promoters again cancelled events in response to new public health orders, this is happening at a Hillsong Youth event in Newcastle with no social distancing and not a mask in sight.”

Artists comprising Thrillsong, an Australian music supergroup announced on January 13, 2022. Picture: supplied

“If it looks like a gig and sounds like a gig, guess what, it’s a gig. Health workers, communities and fans come first, we need one rule for everyone.”

In a statement to ABC News on Thursday afternoon, Hillsong defended its “summercamp” event and said it was “not similar to a music festival in any way”.

“Our camps involve primarily outdoor recreational activities including sports and games,” said a Hillsong spokesperson in a statement. “Outdoor Christian services are held during the camp but these are only a small part of the program, and any singing is only a small part of each service. We follow strict Covid procedures and adhere to government guidelines.”

The full line-up of Thrillsong features Alex The Astronaut, Annie Hamilton, Art vs. Science, CC:DISCO!, Confidence Man, Dune Rats, Hatchie, Illy, Jack River, The Jungle Giants, KLP, Lime Cordiale, Montaigne, Odette, Peking Duk, Set Mo, Stace Cadet, Sycco, Thandi Phoenix and What So Not.

Additional reporting: Liam Mendes