More initiatives in three states to ignite live music

An earlier Rock In The Park in Parramatta

A raft of initiatives are set to ignite live music as restrictions are relaxed.

Parramatta, Sydney

City of Parramatta relaunched Parramatta Nights, its free outdoor autumn event series in its CBD, with two new additions.

Held March 17 to April 23, it includes Rock In The Park at Parramatta Park (March 27) in partnership with Live Nation, and Jazz After Dark at Parramatta Square curated by the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA).

The inaugural Parramatta Nights Street Festival is a multi-venue event offering electronica, hip-hop, soul, funk and punk, roving performers, collaborations by DJs and radio presenters, pop-up bars and food stalls, and art installations.

Another new addition is First Nations showcase Ngana Birrung (Dharug for ‘black stars’) on April 3 with hip-hop, R&B and EDM acts.

Lord mayor Donna Davis said: “Parramatta Nights is the perfect way to reinvigorate our City, support our local businesses and the creative arts industry, which have all taken a hit over the past two years.”

Adelaide

During Adelaide’s Mad March of festivals and events, more street parties with live music and outdoor dining will be held as part of its expanded East End Unleashed.

Streets will close on Friday and Saturday nights, with free parking offered to up night-time activity.

In the meantime, on March 1, the live sector holds the SA Entertainment Industry Summit 2.0 at 6:30 pm at the Arkaba to discuss strategies after six months of current restrictions.

Melbourne

In a revamp of alcohol rules announced for Melbourne on February 25, hotels and bars with 11 pm closing can extend to 1 am.

Pubs and music venues doing takeaways during lock-down can sell alcohol with the orders.

These follow earlier changes for Melbourne, including an end to audience caps at venues and the return of dance floors.

Randwick, Sydney

Randwick City Council is putting a plan to revitalise its live music, entertainment and night-time economy to draw punters from other areas of Sydney up for public comment.

Among proposed changes are expanding the amount of smaller bars which are open until 2 am, more busking licenses, and less tape for retail shops to host music and cultural events with alcohol, and for other businesses to trade 24 hours.

Wollongong

After the success of its free Lovers Lane music festival held in Globe Lane on February 13, Wollongong Council has signalled there’ll be more open air live concerts and pop-up music and entertainment venues.

Lovers Lane Wollongong (Facebook)

It’s also widening outdoor dining options, with 30 businesses approved for it in the last six months.

Wangi, Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie Council in NSW is piloting a scheme on the Wangi peninsula to turn it into a special entertainment precinct in April.

Called Wangi Live, Council has asked local businesses to be part of an entertainment program that will connect with its waterside events and ensure local businesses are revitalised by music tourists.

“This pilot aims to trial measures to protect live music and performance venues and support the creative industries and night-time economy,” it said.

“Experiences from this pilot will be used to inform legislative pathways that can be used by all councils in NSW.”