Made From Melbourne campaign launches to support city’s recovering live scene

A guitar made from pieces of timber sourced from four Melbourne venues has been manufactured as part of a larger campaign to “keep live music alive” in the city.

The Made From Melbourne project was designed to celebrate and support the city’s live music sector, which is still on the road to recovery following the pandemic.

Launched in partnership with ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, the Maton MM3000 semi-acoustic guitar contains timber from The Tote, The Espy, The Corner and Cherry Bar. The guitar will soon travel to the four venues to be used by local and touring artists.

The campaign was supported by a range of industry partners including Mushroom Group, Support Act, Music Victoria and Bakehouse Studios.

Saatchi & Saatchi’s executive creative director, Simon Bagnasco, noted how integral live music was to the city.

“A project like this is only as good as the passion brought to it by the partners and people you meet along the way. To that end I have to say a tremendous thank you to our production partners Scoundrel and Alt-Shift and to our incredible supporting partners – all of whom understand how integral live music is to making Melbourne, Melbourne,” he said.

An accompanying documentary of the same name, made by filmmaker Matt Weston and Scoundrel Films, was aired on Channel 9 over the weekend and is currently streaming on a range of platforms. The documentary features interviews with You Am I’s Tim Rogers, broadcaster Jane Gazzo, Dan Sultan, Cherry Bar’s James Young, Bakehouse Studios’ Helen Marcou and Quincy McLean, and more.

The documentary, its website and assorted communications also encouraged viewers to donate to Support Act.