Local music festivals receive $500k lifeline

FOUR of the region’s favourite live music festivals will share in a funding boost of almost $500,000, as part of the federal government’s Revive Live grant program.

Torquay’s Nightjar Festival, the Queenscliff Music Festival, Beyond the Valley and Roadhouse Entertainment’s popular concert series A Day on the Green will all receive much-needed funds.

Established in the 2024-25 federal budget, the Revive Live grant program aims to revitalising the country’s live music sector by providing funds to recipients to help them adapt to market pressures and improve the sustainability of their operation.

Funds have also been provided to live music festivals to facilitate accessibility improvements that will allow more people with disabilities to participate, whether as a performer, arts worker or audience member.

Ms Coker said the funding would help ensure performers and audiences across the region could continue to play and enjoy live music.

“Live music venues and festivals are the lifeblood of our local music scene, and I want to ensure they remain a place for homegrown artists to perform,” she said.

“Revive Live is alleviating some of the additional costs facing our industry right now and will help them to be more sustainable into the future.”

Roundhouse Entertainment director Michael Newton said A Day on the Green’s inclusion in the first round of the grant program was recognition of the festival’s entertainment and economic value to Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast.

“While it hasn’t been quantified, the feedback we get from local businesses and councils is that it’s an economic boon for the area, not just on the night, but every night, or day, either side of the show as well.”

A Day on the Green will receive just over $150,000 through the grant program, which will be put toward enhancing the accessibility of Mt Duneed Estate for people living with a disability as well as local traffic.

Mr Newton said rising costs had made it more experience than ever for artists to tour and for festival operators to stage concerts, especially those outdoors on greenfield sites.

“When we do a show, every single thing that walks or is placed on that site, we pay for. So, making the venue more comfortable and easier to get into and out of is really important.

“Live music adds a lot of any economy wherever it is, whether it’s in the city or regionally, and I’m really thrilled that Libby and her team have seen that A Day on the Green is due for some kind of funding.”

Ms Coker said the funding boost was a win for both locals and the industry.

“Live music venues and festival make a large contribution to our local economies, with many tourism and hospitality industries leveraging off the success of the live music scene,” she said.

“This funding will benefit four local festivals and help grow Australia’s ecosystem of live music for the future.”