The bad news released yesterday was that the Gaelic Hotel in Sydney was closing its doors to live music in order to exist as a restaurant and bar. Gee, thanks management!
Despite being recently renovated to hold 500 punters a statement from management published on Fasterlouder.com yesterday claimed " The decision was a difficult one, made after a number of years in a tough climate for live music in Sydney venues. It joins the closure of other much-beloved venues for Sydney music lovers, including The Hopetoun in recent years." Poor old Gaelic Club, its sad. Is the live scene in Sydney big enough to support more than three 500 capacity venues? You've already got The Metro and Hi Fi plus a bunch of smaller venues scattered around the inner city, stiff competition. What is the answer to the dilemma? Goverment legislation enforcing a required percentage of time to be spent at live venues by the general public, bands playing for free (which most independents do anyway once they've paid the mixer and a regular rehearsal space). There doesn't seem to be a sensible answer.
Sydney is not the only city that will lose a live music venue. As per a media release sent out last night, apparently the heart of St Kilda is under attack. The release states " The heart of St Kilda is under attack, according to local group The St Kilda Live Music Community, who say that the musicians and live music
venues in the area are being unfairly targeted by the City of Port Phillip with huge fines, loss of jobs and serious interruptions to business because of extreme restrictions on noise. A string of live music venues in St Kilda have been forced to stop offering live music, or have been slapped with fines of $1200 and more because of noise complaints made by anonymous lone residents." Fines and restrictions have been put on venues such as Pure Pop Records, Lost for Words, The Lyrebird, Prince of Wales Hotel and The
Vineyard, who run regular live music gigs for established and emerging musicians and their fans.
The controversy was sparked by singer Bobby Valentine who has been forced to suspend his regular gig due to a lone resident complaining about the noise, despite the fact that a neighbourhood petition in support of Bobby was presented to council.
Community group founder and local resident Michelle Harrington said “How can one lone resident in an area be running the show and depriving hundreds of their neighbours of the things they enjoy? So many
people are putting their time, skills and energy into ensuring St Kilda has a wide range of live music opportunities for a diverse audience. I’d like to say we represent those who are sick of our voice being drowned out by a single complainer in most instances. We are in danger of losing our venues and want to understand how and why this is still occurring in a post-SLAM era, and how to stop the rot. We’d like to see people contact Councillors and call for a public meeting on this issue, with all voices recognised.”
If you are interested in saving live music for real and not just attending a token gig on S.L.A.M day check out the following links.
stkildarockchronicle@live.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/SKLMC/
