Report: Adelaide posts 14.4% rise in gigs in 12 months

Image:Radio Spectacular at Rocket Bar, Adelaide

Helped by pro-active initiatives from music associations and progressive legislation from the South Australian Government, live music is thriving in Adelaide.

The 2016 Adelaide Live Music Census, compiled by peak music association Music SA and the Live Music Office, reported a 14.4% increase in live music gigs and a 32.4% increase in venues offering live music within a 12 month period to 208.

The Census offers a snapshot of live music activity in the South Australian capital in May 2016, and compares it to figures of a similar freeze-frame in May 2015.

The Census cites 1,101 gigs presented through May 2016, the most in Adelaide City. Of these hotels provided 81.6% of gigs (899) and 73.5% (153) were at venues. There were 23 gigs in entertainment venues, 47 in 13 clubs and 36 gigs in six restaurants. Only two of 60 small venue licenses had live music, hosting four shows across the month.

However only 30% of gigs were by original acts, with a predominance of acoustic shows. The other 70% were cover bands. In May 2016, there were 264 contemporary original shows in 42 venues.

Acoustic made up 58 shows in eleven venues. Celtic made up 13 shows in two venues, 16 jazz in four venues, seven jazz/classical in two venues, one children in one venue, and eight major events in one venue.

In May 2016 there were 12 hard-rock shows (originals and covers) dates hosted by two venues. There were 360 covers in 75 venues. But the biggest attraction for cover acts was in the acoustic genre, with 270 such performances in 50 venues.

Music SA General Manager Lisa Bishop expects the expansion of the state and main city’s live music sector to continue.

“With further planned improvements to live music regulation we foresee a sustainability that will demonstrate the importance of live music as an industry that drives South Australia’s economic transformation,” Bishop said.

These initiatives include one from the State Government called the ‘90 Day Change Project’, the details to be announced shortly.

In 2014, the South Australian live music scene contributed $263.7 million to the state economy, according to Arts Minister Jack Snelling. On top of liquor licensing changes, which cut red tape for starting music venues and made it cheaper to run venues, the Live Music Office is currently advocating for Development Regulations to be amended to exclude ‘low risk’ live music and performance from being considered development.

Ian Horne, General Manager of the Australian Hotels Association (SA) is delighted with the results of the latest survey. “With 82% of all live music gigs played in a hotel, South Australian hotels continue to be loud and proud supporters of live music and this of course is good for the music industry, the hotel industry, jobs and the State,” he points out.

Music SA’s Bishop continues, “There’s never been a better time for audiences to enjoy live music and for the industry to get behind significant live music gig initiatives such as Umbrella Winter City Sounds, the ACC’s Live Music Action Plan, the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Guitars in Bars, and the SA Tourism Commission’s Live Music Events Fund. We are truly a UNESCO City of Music and we are open for business!”