Arts Access Victoria announces free all-inclusive music festival

Arts Access Victoria and Always Live are presenting Snug Rock – a free, all ages, accessible music festival to be held at the Music Market at Collingwood Yards on the afternoon of 10th December.

Accessibility is front and centre at Snug Rock. The event includes Auslan interpreters, quiet spaces, support workers, and no flashing or strobe lighting. The event is also live-streamed with live captioning, ensuring everyone can enjoy the festival.

Arts Access Victoria this year released a report, ‘Music Makers: Disability in the Music Industry’ which found that fewer Deaf and Disabled people felt comfortable in attending arts events and festivals compared to their non-disabled pears. This is despite a higher number of Deaf and Disabled people than the general population reporting an interest in music.

Barriers for Deaf and Disabled people included physical venue access or uncomfortable environments, sensory overload, lack of Auslan, and inconvenient times.

Snug Rock is a relaxed afternoon of social connection, community, access and music with Caroline Bowditch, -Arts Access Victoria Chief Executive and Artistic Director enthusing “Arts Access Victoria is thrilled to present Snug Rock. The festival will centre access so that young people do not face barriers to enjoying live music. We want everyone to feel safe and supported to experience their favourite acts.

“Before Snug Rock we will be hosting small mixers to give everyone a chance to connect, if they choose. This will give people time to get to know the space and people attending.

“We will use the social connection system to help everyone feel safe and assert their boundaries.”

Headliners include June Jones, Racerage, Huntly, Rudely Interrupted and Half N Half. “

Singer- songwriter June Jones will be performing fresh off the back of her new album ‘Pop Music for Normal Women’. Racerage is a queer Blak radical rapbrat with a defiant punk energy and a unique colourful DIY aesthetic. Melbourne-based Huntly have built a reputation as one of Australia’s most dynamic live electronic acts. Rudely Interrupted (Rohan Brooks, Rory Burnside and Sam Beke) have been travelling the world for over 16 years, performing their critically acclaimed rock/ pop hits. Half n Half is an unapologetic, energetic northside duo of drums and guitar.

Tickets are free to attend or livestream, and are now on sale. Tickets can be booked via Humanitix. Full event information is on the Arts Access Victoria website.