On Tuesday, February 23, musicians and music fans across Victoria will gather in Melbourne to protest the state government’s dismissal of the capital’s live music industry.
The protest organised by SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) will also coincide with the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s filming of ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’, which was shot on that day in 1976 in Melbourne’s Swanston Street.The music community in the city has felt dismayed by the lack of support from the government, and emotions reached a peak when live music venue The Tote in Collingwood closed down last month after being listed as a “high risk venue”, despite no history of violence.
“This is going to happen whether they like it or not,” protest organiser and former Blue Ruin singer Quincey McLean told The Age.
“It's got too much momentum, it's too big to stop now. It will be like Moomba with a message. Whenever a natural disaster happens, musicians are the first to put their hand up and offer support. Now it's time for the public, who get music free online and hear it for free on the radio wherever they go, to give support back to the music they love so much.”
The march will be lead by a band, expected to be the RockWiz Orchestra, will play on the back of a flatbed truck playing the song.
The march will take place at 4pm on February 23 at the State Library on Swanston Street and march along the video’s original route before turning left up Bourke Street, ending on the steps of the Victorian Parliament.
Put it in your calendars!
Watch the original ‘Long Way To The Top’ video here:
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