Micro music festivals are set to take over regional New South Wales
It’s no secret that the life of the regional music fan is a tough one. If you want to buy music or go to gigs, you have to travel for hours at a time just to have the opportunity, and let’s not even get started on trying to find bandmates to jam with in your isolated locale. Thankfully, the New South Wales Government is coming to the rescue, in an attempt to make music more accessible or those in regional areas.
Announced today, the NSW Government has teamed up with Create NSW and the Live Music Office to create a live music program, which will see regional areas share in funds to help micro music festivals take place.
Held in a variety of locations, including streets, parks, and a multitude of local businesses, Orange, Newcastle, Tenterfield, Tweed Shire, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey, Armidale and Mudgee are set to share in $150,000 to host Live And Local events during the 2017/2018 period.
Don Harwin, the NSW Government’s Minister for the Arts has praised the initiative as another way for the NSW Government to help develop the arts and culture sectors across the state. “It’s fantastic that we are able to take this program to the bush to improve opportunities for the promotion of live music across our state,” Mr Harwin said.
“This is a great initiative where Councils can offer local artists a platform to be heard. From school bands to rock bands, locals will be entertained by locals for free.
“After our events in Parramatta, Camden and Wollondilly dating back to last year, I’m delighted that we are able to widen the net to help grow live music in regional NSW.”
Five Western Sydney councils are also set to receive a share of $100,000 in funding, including Liverpool, Cumberland, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Campbelltown. Based on the success of this initiative in these Sydney councils last year, these new councils are set to receive funding in hopes of repeating the previous results.
The funds received by these regions and councils are set to be used to cover the cost of fees for musicians, curators, and technicians involved in the events.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.