News October 27, 2015

Festival booker Damian Cunningham joins National Live Music Office

Former Editor

Damian Cunningham, festival booker and owner of Elastic Entertainment, has been appointed Director of Audience and Sector Development at the National Live Music Office.

Cunningham will work with local government and the live music industry to develop audiences and live music venues.

In his more than 12 years experience in the UK and local music industries, Cunningham has worked in booking and logistic consultancy roles for festival juggernauts like The Great Escape, Big Day Out and Splendour In The Grass as well as boutique festivals like Newtown Festival, Surry Hills Festival and Peats Ridge. Through his company Elastic Entertainment he has managed tour support for Lorde, The Griswolds and Jon Cleary plus handled e-commerce development and entertainment Visa’s.

Cunningham told TMN: “Joining John Wardle in the National Live Music Office creates an exciting opportunity to move forward and to further develop the landscape of live performance for artists across Australia. With my experience and background in the live music industry I’m looking to build on the already excellent work already done by both John Wardle and Dr Ianto Ware in policy, research and legislation.

“It’s my aim to bring a broad and practical approach to working in all areas of live music performance with a strong interest in venue, festival and use of alternative space for performance.”

John Wardle, Policy Director at National Live Music Office said: “Damian’s knowledge, capacity and practical experience is a great boost for the Live Music Office. We’ve made some great progress in strategic policy supporting the development of local government live music and performance plans […] We want to ensure new live music opportunities are created and existing live music venues maintained.”

The National Live Music Office was founded in July last year to support Australia’s live music sector. It was funded by the Federal Government and created in partnership with APRA AMCOS and the Australia Council.