WA Government promises help for Perth live music scene

The WA Government has agreed to help the Perth live music venues. This came a week after a crisis meeting held last Monday (Feb 23).

Over 300 people came to debate the issue of the dwindling amount of live music venues, convened by the newly-formed Perth Venue Action. The meeting was held at the Bakery in Northbridge, whose upcoming closure was one of the reasons for the meeting. Also attending were politicians and bureaucrats.

During the meeting, a motion was carried that the State Government help fund a new or refurbished 600 capacity inner city venue to replace the Bakery (pictured). The venue, which has run music and arts events since 2002, will close in May after the building’s new owner decided to knock it down and build apartments.

WA Culture and the Arts Minister John Day today confirmed that his Department would look into finding a substitute venue. One of his options is that the 1920s Rechabites Hall in Northbridge, a former theatre and bank which closed in 2018, could include live music. The Government put the three-level 856sqm building up for lease last November as part of its $6 million refurbishment of the area’s William Street.

"Having an active contemporary music scene in Perth and WA, I think, is important and I'm certainly very supportive of doing whatever we can to ensure that can continue," he told the West Australian.

A possibility is that the Government will also look at diverting some of the $468,000 it gives in grants to 50 creative projects to live music. However, a suggestion put forward by the live music sector, that venues which showcase live music be subsidised, was rejected.

On the East Coast, government and local council initiatives to help the live music sector have included setting up roundtables which included police and bureaucrats, small grants to help venues sound-proof, changes in law to stop new residents from complaining about noise from existing venues, mediation meetings with neighbours, and changes in rules to make it easier and cheaper to get liquor licences and encouragement of under-age gigs.

As reported in TMN, the crisis meeting led to the announcement of the formation of a new lobby association, and promises from politicians attending to put live music more in the spotlight. Other initiatives have followed.

Perth’s Underground Live Music Appreciation Club (PUMLAC) is running an online poll to find what elements stop fans from attending live gigs.

Music association WAM is reconvening the Music Council to discuss issues.

WAM is also looking to find a corporate sponsor to fund audience development programs that would encourage younger music fans to go out to live shows and actively support local acts.

WAM CEO Mike Harris added, “WAM is conducting a model of the schools programs with the support of WA based property group Hawaiian, as well as developing original music audiences in regional areas via programs like the Regional Touring Circuit and Sounds of series.”