Roady4Roadies expands to 13 cities in 2020

CrewCare’s event supporting the music industry’s road crews returns for another year.

After a huge inaugural event in 2019, an expanded Roady4Roadies will take in 13 events in 13 cities in 2020, spanning from capital cities to regional centres.

Some of the most essential figures in entertainment, Roady4Roadies raised over $70,000 in its first year, as well as shining a much-deserved light on the diverse range of highly technical and creative skills required of live production crew.

In 2020, Roady4Roadies will expand from the five capital cities, and also heads to Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Newcastle, Port Lincoln, Sunshine Coast, The Entrance and Townsville.

“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.

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

Each event kicks off with a Roady4Roadies Walk, including family activities around each city’s entertainment precinct, with a free t-shirt for all participants, and concluding with live entertainment from some of Australia’s leading artists.

Performers locked in this year include Jon Stevens, Tim Rogers, Dave Graney and Clare Moore, John Paul Young, Mr. Meaner, Kevin Borich Express, Daren Reid, Andy Seymour, Steve Kilbey and John Jarrett, with more to be announced.

There’ll also be a special first, ever Support Act Live! concert taking place at Sydney’s Paddo RSL, with all Roady4Roadies walkers receiving a free ticket.

“All my time in the music industry, there was always someone there to pick me up when I was down,” says veteran roadie Ross Ferguson.

“CrewCare guided me to Support Act. Because of Support Act, this caring kindness continued afterwards. They gave me the help that lifted me out of a crisis, when I really needed it. Thank you, Support Act. You saved me.”

“One of the most pleasing things for us was how the entire spectrum of the music industry pitched in with their time and money to make it work,” adds Howard Freeman.

“They included promoters, publicists, managers, agents, venues, media and of course artists. They all worked along-side the best crew in the country … the best in the world!”

CrewCare says the event is about as much about fostering a community spirit as providing an insight to the technical and creative work of road crews, and to the crisis of their physical, medical and financial problems.

Funds raised by CrewCare and Support Act have so far provided 111% more relief grants to crew, and crew now represent 12% of the users of the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline.

“Road crew are the heart and soul of the Australian music industry,” says Jon Stevens

“They are the first people at the venue and the very last to leave. They put together the gigs and the concerts that make us look great and that you enjoy. They are the industry’s unsung heroes”

“But the life of a roadie can be tough and uncompromising. Their work is physically demanding and emotionally challenging.

“The unrelenting hours and pressures and travel often come with a huge personal cost. While road crew spend their lives supporting us, sometimes they too need our support.”

For all event times and ticketing information head to the Roady4Roadies Official Website.