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On Monday, Member for Buninyong, and candidate for Eureka, Michaela Settle, was at The Eastern backing in a pledge to support live music with the aim of getting bands back on the road and touring.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll invest $34 million in the music industry, but what\u2019s really important, and what we\u2019re emphasising, is that 25 per cent of that will go into regional Victoria,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a gig fund for 10,000 gigs over the next four years, and bands will get roughly up to $1000 each gig, and 25 per cent of those will be in regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Major Events Fund with grants up to $50,000 will benefit big festivals, like Meredith, and we\u2019re only a couple of weeks away from that being back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how incredibly important that is, not just to music lovers, but to the whole area. I know the township of Meredith absolutely rely on the income from that festival, so to be able to support those coming back is fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Owner of The Eastern Matt Stone said this kind of gig funding would benefit performers and venues.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the government can pay the artists, then we can keep some of the door money, which will help us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ms Settle said there\u2019s also funding pledged for the Always Live series, and for a program to send professional musicians into secondary schools as song writing mentors.<\/p>\n
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