Queenscliff music boost

THE Bellarine’s Queenscliff Music Festival and The Blues Train have received a much-needed, combined boost of $65,000 through the Live Music Australia Program.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the funding aimed to help the two local entertainment operators recover from the severe impacts of COVID-19.

She said the funding lifeline to regional festivals, theatres and venues would enable people to come back and enjoy live music when restrictions allowed.

“I am delighted to announce the iconic Blues Train will also receive $38,183 to curate and support a special series of shows aimed at the next generation of contemporary blues and roots artists.”

Blues Train Next Generation artistic director Hugo Armstrong said that after a devastating blow to the rolling music venue, this funding had enabled the development of a new program with tickets now on sale.

“The funding will provide critical support for this favourite live music venue attraction, supporting the Blues Train’s future expansion in blues and roots.”

Senator Henderson said the Queenscliff Music Festival had been awarded $27,500 to establish their debut season as a new live music venue.

Queenscliff Music festival director Andrew Orvis said the festival team was “very excited to work on this new project, which will breathe life in to the beautiful and historic Queenscliff Town Hall, and feature a series of monthly concerts beginning later in 2021”.

“This funding will enable us to purchase equipment such as a PA system, lighting, and staging to help make the town hall a fantastic community arts space for live music, performances, theatre, films and more, that will benefit all existing and new town hall users.”

The federal government’s Live Music Australia Program is assisting live music venues across the country to re-open and rebuild their capacity for programming activity as restrictions on public gatherings and live music performance are lifted.