News : Melbourne rally to "Save Live Australia's Music"

The recent closure of The Tote and the announcement of The Arthouse’s intention to do the same is causing increasing alarm amongst Victoria’s music scene and wider music community. These closures, a result of the destructive impact caused by Liquor Licensing Victoria’s decision to treat live music venues as high-risk, penalizing them with higher fees and greater costs for required security, is now posing a huge threat to more of the state’s venues and in turn the livelihood of the local music community.
In a reaction to the lack of response from the government to amend these regulations, S.L.A.M. (Save Live Australia’s Music) have announced a Public Rally to be held on Tuesday 23rd February commencing at 4pm in the City. (proposed assembly point, the State Library – check the website for details).

S.L.A.M. is a collective of Victoria’s broader musical community who have joined forces to make their voice heard as local music becomes increasingly under threat due to these ill-conceived Liquor Licensing Laws. S.L.A.M. are calling on musicians and music lovers from all genres, creeds and generations to unite to Protest to Save Live Australia’s Music on the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s iconic ‘Long Way To The Top’ clip originally filmed on Swanston Street.

Leading the procession will be the extraordinary RocKwiz Orchestra performing on the back of a truck AC/DC-style with Lucky Luscombe, James Black and Mark Ferrie and everyone’s favourite host with the most, Brian Nankervis plus the original troupe of bag pipe players. This will be filmed by Paul Dane who shot the legendary clip back in 1976. This historic event aims to make the Government to hear our cry to save live music from the clutches of Victoria’s draconian Liquor Licensing Laws. Our aim is to de-link the high risk conditions and need for security on all liquor licenses for venues that play live and amplified music and push for these to be given fairer consideration. Live music venues are not high risk and we have asked that Victorian community join in a peaceful protest to have their voice heard!

So bring your band, your fans, your friends and family and join this protest of a lifetime. To register your band or become a volunteer check out the S.L.A.M. website…

www.slamrally.org
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=297311591896&ref=nf

Save Our Music, Save Our Community.