Paul Kelly

“The venues most adversely affected by one size fits all licensing laws are precisely those venues which encourage local culture and responsible use of alcohol. They are the venues that people go to hear homegrown music. Places where people know and look out for each other; where musicians and songwriters learn their craft; where ideas are exchanged. You might say they are community art centres. Melbourne’s independent music scene has a world-wide reputation – rich, diverse and fertile. Don’t kill it, legislators. Don’t destroy what makes Melbourne unique.”

Slash

“Support Save Live Australia’s Music (SLAM). It’s criminal to close the venues that provide live music in Australia’s communities.

I fully support the cause.”

Nick Cave

“I support my fellow musicians in Melbourne. Don’t tear down these places. They are the heart and soul of the city. Don’t kill live music!”

Clare Bowditch

“Victoria rocks! And it’s thanks to our Vibrant Live Music Scene, found in dozens of little pubs giving musicians that first break. These venues shouldn’t be burdened with providing extra security just so the powers-that-be can claim they’re doing something about violence. Fans of great local music love a good fight. Not the type that takes two bouncers to pull apart, just one that allows all those little pubs, who give us our Vibrant Live Music Scene, half a chance of surviving.”

Mick Harvey

“Melbourne’s live music scene has been synonymous with the city and an essential part of its cultural balance for more than four decades. Losing it could well undermine the entire fabric of the city’s artistic and cultural community and irreparably damage something which makes Melbourne unique and renowned, not only in Australia but internationally.”

Angie Hart

“I’ve been making music now for twenty years. I began my career in the Melbourne pub scene and I depend on that same scene to this day, not just for my livelihood, but also for my liveliness.
When I’m not playing, I regularly pop out to see bands on the small stage. It’s how our community works. We meet each other, we are inspired by each other and we support each other.
If I couldn’t step out and see, hear and experience the existence of my community, I’d go quietly bonkers.
Please support our live scene and don’t kill our livelihood.”

The Living End

“We strongly support SLAM in encouraging LLV and parliament to re-assess their decision to categorise pubs with live music as high risk. For 30 or 40 years the stages in these pubs have been where Australian music has crafted an identity recognised throughout the world. If more venues like the Tote and the Arthouse close down there will be a real threat to Melbourne’s diverse artistic culture. Rock and roll gigs are a place people can blow off steam in a non-violent way. It ain’t our pubs that are dangerous. We really need to make some noise about this and show LLV that we are passionate about our pubs and our music and make them see it the right way.” Scott Owen

Deborah Conway
& Willy Zygier

“If you take away the cultural heart of a city, all that’s left are more opportunities for anti-social behaviour. Government already controls most other forms of music in respect of what is or is not subsidised; rock n’ roll is true risky entrepreneurship at it’s boldest and bravest that often only just makes it from gig to gig. Please think again before something beautiful dies.”

Kim Salmon

I moved here from Perth 20 years ago for one reason… GIGS! Other Aussie cities have music venues but not the plethora Melbourne has. For years Australian musicians have moved away from other cities to make Melbourne home. Sydney used to have the same thing going on as Melbourne, but closures due to licensing laws changed things. Now most bands I know rarely visit Sydney unless they’re prepared to lose money and play to no one. This will happen here if we let it. Our State Government likes to promote Melbourne as Australia’s Arts capital so they should remember they need the arts community’s votes!

Cut Copy

“Our music culture is under threat from a poorly drafted piece of legislation. Live music is a vital part of Melbourne’s cultural identity and as such should be supported. The overwhelmingly non-violent nature of the music community needs to be recognised.” Mitchell Scott

Brunswick Blues Shooters

“We enjoyed a residency of nearly four and a half years at the Railway Hotel – a small, friendly family owned hotel. Our low-volume, down-home serving of blues, country and old jazz and pop tunes went well with the home-style Italian cooking and the regular crowd who turned up week after week, year after year. With less than a days notice, the gig was cancelled, thanks to the requirement for two security guards to be present while we played. Not only our night was cancelled, but the Friday and Saturday bands also. This was a popular spot to enjoy some local music, enjoy some good food and catch up with friends. The public loses, the bands lose, the publican, his family and staff lose.”

My Disco

“Looking at the live music culture outside Victoria, we count ourselves lucky to live and be actively involved in the Melbourne music scene. Venue closures throughout Sydney and Brisbane have forced live music to struggle in inner city suburban homes, warehouses, art spaces and anywhere that will host it in a desperate effort to save a once flourishing community. As venue owners in our city now face increased licensing fees, cut backs on hours of operation and strict decibel restriction, we are forced to realize that without active community participation, Melbourne could soon become a mere shadow of what was once heralded as the greatest live music community in the southern hemisphere.”

Dobe Newton
The Bushwackers

“Next year as I celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Bushwackers, I’ll be a proud man – and a lucky one. 
Thinking back on all those years, none of what we’ve achieved would have been possible without the years spent in Melbourne pubs building the loyal fan base which later attended concerts, dances, bought records, t-shirts etc. 
Melbourne’s pubs, clubs and bars have always been the training ground for the future. 
Leave them alone! Or be prepared to be remembered as the people who wantonly destroyed a vital part of our culture.”

Amanda Palmer
Dresden Dolls

“Live music has to be nurtured at ALL levels…it’s a community umbrella under which all people gather together. The ability for smaller musicians – especially nowadays with the death of the recorded industry – to make money and grow their audiences in small clubs and bars is CRUCIAL. You can eat in a restaurant without security guards, right? Don’t kill the food that feeds the soul!”

Tim Rogers

“I’m finding the governments language about all this to be disturbingly reactionary and depressingly smug. Melbourne’s smaller venues propel the city’s culture with a force not proportionate to their size. There is a relationship between audience, staff and performer at live music venues that dissipates the kind of violence more regularly exhibited at larger venues where the discourse that entertainment encourages doesn’t happen. I can not think of another art form where an audience can be so intimately involved in the performance. Participation, community, and ridiculous hair – it’s beautiful. Sound up.”

Augie March

“As one band that’s put in as much as it’s taken out of this glorious city we ask that the responsible servants go back and work harder, understand your city by living some time in the less illuminated corners of it, even if it smells funny, and help maintain a community and an industry that doesn’t ask for subsidies but creates an enormous amount of jobs and money, not to mention cultural cache that has international acts and tourists tripping over each other to come here and sample what is often a bygone sensation in their own towns.” Glenn A. Richards

The Blackeyed Susans

“Nearly twenty years ago The Blackeyed Susans moved from Perth to Melbourne for its vibrant live scene and broad musical community. We learnt our craft in the inner-city venues, and thrived in an atmosphere of cross fertilisation and artistic ambition. Many others came too from all over the country, joining those already here in building Melbourne’s reputation as the music capital of Australia. Music is the people’s art, its galleries are the pubs and clubs. It enriches our lives by attempting to make sense of them. We would all be the poorer without it.”

Grand Salvo

“The process of degredation is hard to fight because its insideous and happens in increments, but when something precious like the filthy old Tote gets taken away people can get up and say “well fuck that!”. There is a great underswell of frustration and disgust for a government that doesn’t protect, or even respect a music scene that has helped shape the culture of their city, and is envied throughout the world.” Paddy Mann

Your Animal

“Our society is weird. Imagine a world without music? What are the cultural milestones of our civilisation? Sport, science, art, commerce. All of it is rational! Why on earth would anyone be so irrational as to threaten one of Australia’s and the worlds most relevant art forms? Live music venues gestate one of our greatest international exports – its music scene. Music is our way, our truth and our life. Every culture created its identity through sound. Music is a soul thing and there’s nothing wrong with having a fricken soul.” Julie ‘Monty’ Montan

Even

“Since the mid 80s myself and the members of Even, Wally Kempton and Matt Cotter, have played in numerous Melbourne pubs and dedicated live music venues. We strongly support SLAM and all moves to overturn the draconian LLV laws which will make the running of such venues incredibly difficult. Music venues don’t generate violence, they offer artists and audiences a chance to enjoy live music, offering an alternative experience to that of dodgy nightclubs and other inner city flash points. Let’s hope the Victorian government resolves this issue logically.” Ashley Naylor

Lilith Lane

“MELBOURNE = The vibrant and diverse live music capital of Australia, and a city where many an Aussie export earned their musical stripes. Let’s try and keep it that way. Monitoring and revising legislation that threatens the viability of live music venues is crucial to sustaining an ongoing future for our music community. Show your support for Melbourne’s live music scene.
Be at the rally, sign the petition, help make change.”

NED COLLETTE + WIREWALKER

“This is a chance for politicians to act according to what people require of them – they are our representatives after all. Let us remind them that a politician’s job is not to win votes and stay in power – it is to serve the people – and Melbourne’s music scene is vital to this city and to a lot of real people. Why the victims of a policy targeting violence should be musicians, venues and peaceful punters is baffling and sad. Don’t destroy this. “

Espy Rockdogs

“In 1993 The Espy Rockdogs played the Tote in the first ever charity game. That’s 17 years of community support and spirit lead by Melbourne’s Music Family, its loyal followers and Community Radio. Sadly our founding partner is gone. It is requested that the law makers make change and award a few free kicks to the venues who accommodate Melbourne’s artists and bands. We are proud to live, work and play in this great city.” Jason Evo Evans, Espy Rockdogs Founder

Jen Cloher & The Endless Sea

“I moved to Melbourne from Sydney in 2002 when pokies had taken over most of Sydney’s live music venues. I played my first songs at an open mic night at the Empress in North Fitzroy to five people eating parmas. Two years later I had a band, funding from Arts Victoria to make my first record and a residency at The Retreat. A year later we were launching an EP at the Rob Roy and a year after that launching our first album to a full house at the Corner. Without Melbourne’s world class music scene the career we have carved out as musician’s would never have been possible.”

Laura Jean

“I moved here from Gosford, NSW when I was 18 to be a part of the magnificence that is Melbourne’s live music scene. It is world-renowned on an underground level, and I hope that the mainstream catches on as a result of this movement. Any night of the week you can see the wildest, most incredible music if you make the effort. Incredible, complex and multi-linked communities that inspire each other and eventually fashion, art and media. Our live music scene should be heritage listed.”

The Cat Empire

“As a band who started their career playing in small venues around Melbourne, honing our performance skills in front of many and varied audiences, The Cat Empire are first to acknowledge how critical this start was to our career. Melbourne is known as a city that fosters the talents of its musicians, in ways that others don’t. This is critical to our culture and our community.”

Dirty Three

The Drones

Kram

Dan Sultan

Megan Washington

MELBOURNE MASS GOSPEL CHOIR

Myf Warhurst

“Melbourne has an incredible live music scene that we must fight to protect. It’s what makes this city truly great. Without our much loved live venues, the heart and soul of this place will gradually disappear. This cannot happen. I’ll see you at the rally!”