Victoria’s live music sector receives $11 million in funding

The Victorian Government is investing $11 million in popular Victorian music festivals, businesses, musicians and bands.

Music festivals including Meredith and Golden Plains, Queenscliff Music Festival and Beyond The Valley, are among 13 events that will be supported through the Live Music Restart – Festivals and Events program.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos notes “from powering our night-time economy to drawing thousands of visitors to the state, our live music industry contributes more than culture – it’s about jobs and businesses and we’re backing it all the way.”

As well as setting the stage for memorable gigs, this investment will support vital employment opportunities for Victorian artists, tech crews and industry workers, as well as sectors such as security, hospitality and tourism.

A further 64 music projects will get off the ground thanks to the latest round of the Music Works program – around 1,500 Victorian music industry professionals will benefit from this support.

Recipients include The Cat Empire for the recording and release of a new album, indie favourite Julia Jacklin who will undertake a European tour, Noongar artist Bumpy to record her debut EP and Melbourne singer BATTS who will record and produce her third album.

Felix Riebl of the The Cat Empire advises "this grant will allow The Cat Empire to record a brand new album in Victoria, employing over 30 Victorian creatives across the arts industries. It will be the first album for the new era of The Cat Empire fronted by myself and Ollie McGill and will be toured globally in 2023."

Music Works will support music businesses like Thornbury’s Blossom Rot Records to release new music from three different artists, while the Archie Roach Foundation will use its grant to support up and coming First Peoples artists to perform at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

The On The Road Again program will also see even more live music events hit neighbourhoods across metropolitan Melbourne with six new projects to feature an array of local talent.

Youth music organisation The Push will stage a massive All Ages Metropolitan tour across seven metro councils from Banyule to Bayside, while Darebin’s High Street will be the backdrop for The Eighty-Six, a new festival celebrating live music culture in one of Melbourne’s most vibrant music precincts.

For a full list of the latest funding recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au.

Image: Port Fairy Folk Festival