Region benefits culturally and economically from music events

Whether it’s on the streets, in our small venues or our major festival sites, it’s been a memorable year for live music in Geelong.

Our inaugural Surround Sounds, held in April and May, showed the depth of artistic quality that we have living here, and can also attract to the region.

It also confirmed the high demand that exists in the community for live entertainment.

From a total of 90 events, 840 musicians played to more than 14,000 people.

Council provided $60,000 to support the festival, which generated an estimated economic benefit of $1.48 million.

Live music is an important aspect of our arts sector’s powerful and positive contribution to our cultural life and our economy.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Council has directed significant funding towards our artists and creatives.

There has been recovery grants, skills and training, and employment opportunities.

Through this year’s $100,000 Music in the City Series, we have provided performances for two hours in central Geelong each weekday.

It has seen our artists, musicians and street performers take centre stage on Little Malop Street.

While this has added a great atmosphere and entertained shoppers and diners, it has also provided a chance for artists to share their music, improve their live acts, and find some new fans.

Some of this talent is now preparing to compete for the title of Geelong’s Best Busker.

The competition is designed specifically to spotlight unsigned artists, and to provide them a key stepping stone for their career development.

Council has supported Geelong’s Best Busker competition since its inception in 2016.

We provided a grant of $2800 to the organisers, to enable the event to proceed this year.

Over that time, there have been more than 200 artists, across a huge range of ages, participate.

This year’s event has attracted the highest number of performers, and will see them play in multiple locations around Little Malop Street and the Geelong Waterfront on Saturday.

If you are in the city, please take the opportunity to stop and listen to some of our up-and-coming artists and lend your support.

I’m looking forward to heading to Beav’s Bar on Saturday evening, to help announce the winner of Geelong’s Best Busker for 2022.

Prizes, worth a total of $800, will be shared among the top three performers.

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While we’re talking about events, it was fantastic to see City employees move quickly to provide a family-friendly live site to screen the biggest match in the recent history of the Socceroos.

Councillors were keen to see local and visiting fans given the opportunity to come together for the knockout clash with Argentina, given the excitement our national football team had generated in its previous two World Cup wins.

We also enjoyed the chance to take this type of entertainment to the suburbs, which we are endeavouring to do more often.

Despite the early Sunday morning start, a great crowd turned out to Rippleside Park to share in the highs and lows of the 2-1 loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

As evidenced by our array of world-class and national events, Geelong residents love to come together to watch and celebrate our sporting heroes.

While this does wonders for our social lives and community connection, it also has a major spin-off benefit for the local economy.

Analysis of Spendmapp data has found a significant economic uplift from AFL grand final week, which culminated in huge public celebrations.

The analysis found that spending on dining and entertainment increased by $4.8 million over the week, compared to the August/September average.

Driven by both locals and visitors, the 26 per cent jump strengthened our local businesses and supported jobs in the hospitality industry.

With more major sporting events on the horizon – including the Citroen Bay Crits, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Festival of Sails in January 2023 alone – there is a lot to look forward to in Geelong.

As always, you can contact me to discuss any Council-related matters via [email protected] or on 0455 532 006.

Cr Eddy Kontelj