MELBOURNE’S MUSIC SCENE NEEDS YOU

TEEN JESUS & THE JEAN TEASERS AT 170 RUSSELL. PHOTO BY ISABEL ELLIS

Now more than ever, the local music industry needs your support, as more and more venues face closures, festivals get cancelled and Aussie artists struggle to get their names out there. Melbourne has one of the most thriving music scenes in the world, something that we have to preserve and support as much as we can. With the massive increase in cost of living, most artists have to work multiple jobs and struggle to make a living solely from touring and performing, while venues struggle to cover their expenses. Iconic venues like The Gasometer in Collingwood and Hotel Westwood in Footscray have been forced to close, and venues like The Tote and The Night Cat also faced closure due to rising costs.

This is where you come in. 

Every little bit counts. 

Here are ways you can help:

1. Go to gigs

It may seem obvious but it’s the most effective way. And if you have difficulty finding gigs there are loads of local gig guides on Instagram that post every weekly updates, as well as local magazines like beat, forte and triple j that post upcoming gigs too. So get out and support your favourite local bands and venues. And go for the support acts! Every band has to start somewhere and you never know when you’ll stumble across your new favourite band. Supporting the opening acts is so important to help keep live music going, and to see the up and coming bands. 

2. Buy merchandise/music

Ticket sales may not bring in much for some bands so this is where merch really helps. If you can, why not buy a cool t-shirt or even something small like a bumper sticker or badge? Not only are you supporting the artist directly but you can also help promote them by wearing their merch out and about.

Another way to directly support a band is to buy their music off bandcamp. All profits go directly to the artist and best of all you can choose how much you want to spend on their music, whether it be $1 or $20. 

3. Listen to local Aussie music

Something again that seems very small, but you may realise that in your own listening time, you may not listen to as much Aussie music as you thought. So add some local bands to your playlists, tune in to local radio stations on your drive home, or search up playlists that are just local bands. You might discover something you love. 

4. Spread the word

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get people to go to gigs. Tell your friends and family about local gigs and bring them along! Share local gigs on social media, spread the word and help promote these local acts. And when you do go to these local gigs, post any videos and photos you took, and help show them off. Every bit of promotion helps; whether it gets more people to their next gig or to listen to their music. 

All these actions may not seem that big on their own but they can make a huge difference to the local music scene. Australia has a massively talented music scene, ranging from rock to indie to punk to jazz and more. There is so much to love. 

The Melbourne music scene in particular, is so diverse, vibrant and important, and it needs your support to keep it thriving!

Support local artists!