Music industry fights for change with Climate Fridays gig series

The music industry is calling for a stop to gas expansion in First Nations communities through a new season of the Climate Fridays concert series.

Green Music Australia and School Strike 4 Climate have teamed up with artists including Allday, Barkaa, Jen Cloher, Gretta Ray, and Cub Sport to call for the Morrison Government to invest in renewable energy as the economy recovers from the coronavirus.

Kicking off this week, Climate Fridays Season 2 will see live performances and panel discussions each Friday at 6pm AEST, with inspiring young activists and First Nations guests also to join the weekly sessions.

“It’s an honour to stand in solidarity with SEED Indigenous Youth Network and School Strike for Climate to speak up against the Morrison government’s plan to bankroll new dirty gas projects with billions of public dollars,” Jen Cloher said.

“Climate Fridays is an opportunity for artists and activists to come together and use these discussions to inform ourselves so we can take these conversations into our communities. Thanks to Green Music Australia for their connective work in facilitating these sessions.”

The series of virtual gigs will be hosted by triple j’s Roots ‘N All presenter Nkechi Anele, and has the support of Network, Original Power, as well as anti coal mining, coal seam gas and fracking organisation, Lock the Gate.

The gigs will take place every Friday until September 25 via Facebook Live.

“Morrison’s gas-led COVID-19 recovery is no recovery – it’s accelerating our biosphere collapse. What we need is to Build Back Better,” CEO and Campaigner for Green Music Australia Berish Bilander said.

“We have to treat this moment for what it is: A planetary wakeup call. It’s time to stop business as usual and use our collective creativity to rethink everything. The music scene has a crucial role to play in helping us steer a new course.”

In addition to the strike sessions, Green Music Australia and School Strike 4 Climate have also launched a new climate songwriting competition for students.

After the entries are assessed, three shortlisted acts will get to perform in a Climate Fridays showcase with their musical idols, as well as going in the running to share in $1750 of cash prizes.

For more information and to enter, head to greenmusic.org