The Victoria Government in Australia has awarded AUD$11m (£6m/$7m/€7m) to various artists, festivals and programmes that will bring a boost to live music in the region.
As part of an ongoing scheme through Creative Victoria, the money will support local music and jobs for thousands in the music industry, and promote Victorian music locally and internationally.
Since the beginning of 2020 and through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Government has provided over AUD$85m in dedicated support for the music sector.
Music festivals such as the 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.
A further 64 music projects will also be supported through the latest round of the Music Works program. This means that 1,500 music industry professionals in Victoria will benefit from this support.
Recipients include jazz/funk band The Cat Empire for the recording and release of a new album; indie artist Julia Jacklin, who will undertake a European Tour; Noongar artist Bumby, who will record her debut EP and Melbourne singer BATTS, who will record and produce her third album.
The Music Works programme will also support music businesses such as Thornbury’s Blossom Rot Records to release new music from three different artists. It will also support the Archie Roach Foundation, which 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 programme will also help more live music events in the neighbourhoods that make up metropolitan Melbourne, with support for six new projects that feature local talent.
Youth music organisation The Push will stage an All Ages Metropolitan tour across seven metro councils, while Daerbin’s High Street will host Eighty-Six – a new festival celebrating the live music culture.