Musicians, artists and venue providers in the live music scene on the Central Coast are being encouraged to complete the State Of The Scene – Live Music Survey to help better understand the sector’s challenges and the initiatives that will help it to thrive.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said more than half of the state’s live music venues have been lost in the past decade, with just 137 venues left and the new initiative is a positive step in support of those who work in the live music sector.
“The State Government’s live music audit will be music to the ears of the live music community – our artists, managers, promoters, venue operators, roadies, audio engineers, lighting and technical teams, ticket sellers, merchandise retailers, and more,” she said.
“Their unique voices and perspectives – and that includes the good, the bad and the ugly – need to be heard, and their contributions to the vibrancy of our community acknowledged.
“This survey will help shine a light on the roadblocks holding the industry back.
“I applaud the NSW Government’s vision to revive the live music industry as part of its wider vision to grow and support a bold and exciting arts and culture.”
Tesch said the anonymous Live Music Survey formed part of a wider research project that would combine economic analysis, venue mapping data and audience research to inform the NSW Government’s first-ever strategic policy for contemporary music, and creating a vision for a vibrant arts and cultural scene in NSW.
Adam Brzozowski and his partner Milly, who own and manage the Link and Pin at Woy Woy, will take part.
They bought the café, small bar, beer garden and live indie music venue almost three years ago with the main intention of supporting live, original music.
Brzozowski said the survey was a pleasing development.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch with Adam Brzozowski and Milly Dalton at the Link and Pin
“This is a highly positive show of support as it gives us – as venue owners, operators and booking agents – the opportunity to provide constructive feedback to the government on the future of the live music scene in NSW,” he said.
In the three years since he and Milly took over the ownership of Link and Pin, the Woy Woy venue has played host to about 450 bands from a wide range of music genres, from Latin American to country and pub rock, as well as high school bands.
Brzozowski said he would like to see greater co-ordination between liquor licensing authorities, Central Coast Council and the State Government.
“The state laws for live music have never been better, but if Council is not onboard, it can create challenges for live music venues such as ours,” he said.
“We support the government’s focus on new live music venues, but we also believe support needs to be given to existing venues.
“We are feeling confident about the future of our venue, and live music in general, and we know how much of a cultural impact our venue is making in our little region.
“Venues like ours – and the artists and musicians we support here at Link and Pin – are good for the town.
“We employ locals, locals attend the venue in support of local bands, and our venue attracts visitors to Woy Woy who end up staying the night and spending time here enjoying the Central Coast.
Seth Troxler.Bill Patrick It all begins with thumping bass. Then, driving synths enter. Celestial tones follow before the drums kick in. Quick yet gentle beats take center stage, with tinkering tunes later making their way to the forefront. Elements of the song begin to disappear, bringing audiophiles back to the beginning. The sonic qualities slowly renter, but in a different order from how they started. These are the sounds of “Moment.” These are the sounds that started Seth Troxler. This […]
