Anyone worth their plectrum/ticket stub will know of the severe issues currently facing the Victorian live music scene. Here's where you - and Clare Bowditch and Dan Sultan and Megan Washington - get to do something about it.
Due to rising licensing costs instigated by the Director of Liquor Licensing Victoria, Sue Maclellan, in a drastically ham-fisted attempt to curb late-night violence (which it must be pointed out, is eternally making salacious headlines on our senior publication The Age), has deemed that all venues that hold live music to be "high risk". And thus forcing them to front up higher fees and extra security. Even when said late-night venue is a restuarant with some dude playing accordian up the front, a pure music venue like The Tote (R.I.P) or just an acoustic duo at the pub. (I mean I'd want to slash up someone if Dash & Will were playing in the afternoon at my local too, but I go to Electric Ladyland on Chapel St which is open until 3am seven days a week to do that, y'know?) We've already
seen the Tote bite the dust, don't let it happen to others. Because it will.
In response to these draconian laws, a bevy of industry figures, musicians and music fans have banded together to create S.L.A.M (Save Live Australian's Music), who have announced a Public Rally to be held on
Tuesday 23rd February commencing at 4pm in the city. (Proposed assembly point, the State Library – check
website for details).
If you're reading this you are incredibly handsome. As well as at least have a flickering interest in music, if not a powerful one. We urge you to attend this rally. And join
S.L.A.M. Or, if you're interstate,
sign the petition. Lest you find yourself shivering on pingers at Crown Casino one night in the near future, idly fondling poker chips and your Goldfingers ticket stub, wishing there was somewhere to go see a band in this town.
Not really a joke.
From the press release:
S.L.A.M. is a collective of Victoria’s broader musical community who have joined forces to make their voice heard as local music becomes increasingly under threat due to these ill conceived Liquor Licensing Laws. S.L.A.M. are calling on musicians and music lovers from all genres, creeds and generations to unite together to Protest to Save Live Australia’s Music on the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s iconic ‘Long Way To The Top’ clip originally filmed on Swanston Street.
Leading the procession will be the extraordinary Rockwiz Orchestra performing on the back of a truck AC/DC style with Lucky Luscombe, James Black and Mark Ferrie and everyone’s favourite host with the most Brian Nankervis plus the original troupe of bag pipe players. This will be filmed by Paul Dane who shot the legendary clip back in 1976. This historic event aims to make the Government to hear our cry to save live music from the clutches of Victoria’s draconian Liquor Licensing Laws. Our aim is to de-link the high risk conditions and need for security on all liquor licenses for venues that play live and amplified music and push for these to be given fairer consideration. Live music venues are not high risk and we have asked that Victorian community join in a peaceful protest to have their voice heard!
So bring your band, your fans, your friends and family and join this protest of a lifetime. To register your band or become a volunteer check out the S.L.A.M website.
www.slamrally.org
Tuesday February 23rd - 4pm - State Library
Do it.