News March 9, 2021

Roady4Roadies announces national dates, 2021 ambassadors

Senior Journalist, B2B

Roady4Roadies, the music industry’s 10-city fundraising initiative for road crews, is back in 2021 to raise funds for Support Act’s Roadies Fund.

Its ambassadors this year are Icehouse, Missy Higgins, Vika & Linda, Paul Dempsey, Brian Ritchie, The Badloves, Catherine Britt and King Canyon.

Icehouse leader Iva Davies said: “Due to the pandemic, road crew[s] have done it tougher than most in the last year and Roady4Roadies is a chance for all crew – and artists – to come together and support one another.”

Missy Higgins commented: “I’m in endless awe at the professionalism of music crew, how hard they work and the standard they work to.

“Us artists literally could not do what we do without a highly skilled team of men and women behind the scenes making it all happen.

“But it’s a really tough job, working crazy long hours and away from home months at a time.

“It takes its toll on mental and physical health. Then throw into the mix the past year with restrictions on live events, it’s just been devastating for so many music workers and their families who suddenly found themselves unable to make ends meet.

“We need events like Roady4Roadies more than ever right now, so we can show our support and raise some much needed funds for these amazing men and woman who’ve always been the backbone of what we do.”

Roady4Roadies 2021 will be held in 10 cities across the country on Sunday, April 11.

The event starts with the Roady4Roadies Walk (a leisurely 3-4kms) culminating in a variety of family activities and performances at well-known entertainment precincts.

All walk participants receive a free t-shirt and face mask, with sunscreen and bottled water available along the route. Tickets at $30 are here.

The event is organised by CrewCare, which says it is as much to make the music public aware of the technical and creative skills that go into putting a show on the road.

“In its first year, Roady4Roadies raised $71,500.00 from being staged in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth,” said CrewCare co-director and co-founder Howard Freeman on behalf of the association’s board.

“The net profit of $62,820.00 went to the Support Act Roadies Fund to assist crew in crisis.”

The 2020 event was cancelled two weeks out because of COVID-19 and over 20,000 live production crew found themselves without work.

CrewCare said: “Almost 12 months later, it remains virtually unchanged with the industry operating at less than 4% of pre-COVID levels, a result of continual border closures, physical distancing regulations and snap lockdowns.”