2010 Melbourne live music rally
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Melbourne live music rally, (commonly known as the Save Live Australian Music (SLAM) rally) was a public political rally held on 23 February 2010, in central Melbourne
, Australia
. The rally was held in protest
of what the organisers claimed were the effects of liquor licensing laws
on live music
, particularly venues
, and what they asserted to be a lack of government investment and support of live music in general. Attendance was estimated at 10,000-20,000 by the ABC, with some estimates being as high as 50,000.
The rally began at 4pm around the Victorian State Library where a large crowd began to grow from around 3pm, before moving southwards down Swanston Street
, turning left and heading up Bourke Street
, ultimately arriving at Parliament House on Spring Street
, to a variety of speakers and musical performances. Throughout the route, members of the Rockwiz
orchestra enacted AC/DC
's Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll) music video, shot at the same location 34 years prior.
The rally was organised by a collection of community groups including Save Live Music Australia (SLAM), for which the rally itself was named. Other groups involved, attending and supporting the rally included; PSB, Triple R
, JOYfm, the newly formed Music Victoria, the Australian Greens
and representatives from rural pubs and venues.
Many nationally and locally famous and infamous individuals, groups and bands were in attendance throughout the rally including; Paul Kelly
, Missy Higgins
, Paul Dempsey
(Something For Kate
), Tim Rogers
(You Am I
), Wilbur Wilde
, Kram
(Spiderbait
), Scott Owen
(The Living End
), Clare Bowditch, Cut Copy
, Pikelet
, My Disco
, Amanda Palmer
and many others. The rally was the largest in support of live music in Australia's history. Notably, the rally was alcohol free.
, and threatened the closure of several other small live music venues.
Upon the closure of The Tote Hotel in January 2010, several social networking groups were created in opposition to the closure of the venue, one such group reached 20,000 members, and within 2 days a rally was organised. On 17 January, a crowd of between 2,000 and 5,000 rallied outside the venue, closing traffic to two major roads in Collingwood
, an inner city suburb of Melbourne.
The Tote rally sparked moderate public and political debate about the effect these laws were having on small music venues and quickly grew to encompass other venues which host musical performance and lack of government investment and support of live music in general. The rally also forced the State government to open discussions between the state government and local music industry representatives in fear of losing marginal inner city seats at the 2010 Victorian State election, though no action was taken on amending the laws to remove restrictions on small live music venues.
A new body Music Victoria was established and several community groups began organising a much larger rally to encompass the wider spectrum that the issue now covered. Subsequently, another rally was organised for 23 February 2010.
, before stopping and turning left, eastwards up Bourke Street
by 4:30pm. ultimately arriving at Parliament House on Spring Street
around 5pm.
Upon arrival at Parliament House, the rally began to grow in size north and southwards on Spring Street and building back down Bourke Street. AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to The Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll)" was then performed on a temporary stage on the steps of Parliament House with the original pipers from the AC/DC music video. Sometime after 5pm speakers and further musical performances were held on the temporary stage, concluding around 6:15pm.
Many attendees voiced harsh displeasure directed at Liberal MPs on the steps of Parliament House and unseen Labor MPs, many displaying derogatory signs, one such reading "Liberal Fuck Off". Many observers related that it appears as though the State Labor Government has lost many traditionally Labor-voting music industry patrons to Liberal and more importantly, the Greens. Many of the speakers at the rally related their predictions that Labor would lose marginal inner city seats at the 2010 Victorian State election to the Greens and/or Liberal parties.
in both mainstream, public and independent media, regarding his announcement of changes to liquor licensing laws being timed for the morning of the day of the rally. This was seen by many as an attempt to negate the effect of the rally, although anecdotally it didn't appear to have any impact on attendance.
Other controversy included public exclusion on the steps of Parliament House, access only being granted to pre-approved media and photographic personnel, which did not include local music media such as FasterLouder and others. In addition to exclusive media access, Liberal MPs were also granted access to the steps of Parliament House to hold up placards reading "Brumby's Liquor Fees Killing Live Music" and "Liberal's Love Live Music". The gestures of these Liberal MPs were viewed by the crowd as being token and ingenuine, and the MPs were booed several times as speakers referred to them in their respective speeches. Notably, none of the three Greens MPs advertised signage of any kind on the steps.
, in a statement prior to the rally.
"As far as I’m concerned, the small venue is a centre of community cohesion, people know each other, and they’re drawn together. nobody goes there looking for trouble, we all know that. If there’s a few blow-ins and they’ve strayed into the wrong place and they’re trying to start something, they may as well try to start something in a local church. It’s like trying to strike a match against a damp cloth: no chance of fire. The government’s worried about community violence, so are we all. Music and small venues are something that enriches local identity, social responsibility and cohesion. For many of us, it’s the nearest thing to real living culture that we can experience. And we in the inner suburbs are lucky to have our small pubs and bars and restaurants. I understand the social function and humanitarian value of live music, that’s part of a way of life, as much as food, drink, conversation and laughter are. Shortly after my gig folded due to the financial impracticality of employing two crown controllers insisted by the liquor licensing directorate, the same body approved two clubs in the Docklands area. One with a capacity of 750 people, the other with a capacity of 1500. It’s unlikely that either of these places will employ live musicians, it’s equally unlikely that any of the patrons that frequent these places will create social networks through attending these venues. These places are anonymous. The staff will not become familiar with any one of the sea of faces that pass through. And these faces drawn from places that know no community, from places with no other life than the shopping mall, certainly no local gigs, to get as drunk as they can, be ejected by security to continue their binge free of identification, other than by the cold eye of the security camera on the street or the train station, where they can vent their frustration, their alienation, and their bored anger on some passing individual, as faceless to them as they have become to themselves. As for me, I’ll see you at the local gig if it’s still there." - Rick Dempster, from his speech at the rally.
Several radio stations covered the proceedings prior to and during the rally itself, including ABC774, 3AW, PBS, Triple R, Triple M.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The rally was held in protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
of what the organisers claimed were the effects of liquor licensing laws
Alcohol laws of Australia
Alcohol laws of Australia regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages . The laws vary between the states and territories of Australia.-General:...
on live music
Music of Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, Australia, the second largest city in the country, with a population of 4 million. The city has one of the most highly regarded live music scenes in the world, in terms of the quality, support structure and health of its independent/DIY/experimental scene...
, particularly venues
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
, and what they asserted to be a lack of government investment and support of live music in general. Attendance was estimated at 10,000-20,000 by the ABC, with some estimates being as high as 50,000.
The rally began at 4pm around the Victorian State Library where a large crowd began to grow from around 3pm, before moving southwards down Swanston Street
Swanston Street, Melbourne
Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. It is historically one of the main streets of central Melbourne, laid out in 1837 as part of the Hoddle Grid, the layout of major streets that makes up the central business district...
, turning left and heading up Bourke Street
Bourke Street, Melbourne
Bourke Street is one of Melbourne's best known streets. Historically been regarded as Melbourne's "second street", with the main street being Collins Street and "busier than Bourke Street" is a popular catchphrase. Bourke Street has traditionally been Melbourne's entertainment hub...
, ultimately arriving at Parliament House on Spring Street
Spring Street, Melbourne
Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid. The street travels from Flinders Street in the south, to La Trobe Street and the Carlton Gardens in the north...
, to a variety of speakers and musical performances. Throughout the route, members of the Rockwiz
RocKwiz
RocKwiz is an Australian television quiz show series, focused on rock music, and broadcast on SBS One. It premiered in 2005.-Summary:The forty minute program airs on Saturday at 9:20 pm, and is hosted by Julia Zemiro. It is shot in The Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel, commonly...
orchestra enacted AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll) music video, shot at the same location 34 years prior.
The rally was organised by a collection of community groups including Save Live Music Australia (SLAM), for which the rally itself was named. Other groups involved, attending and supporting the rally included; PSB, Triple R
3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
, JOYfm, the newly formed Music Victoria, the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
and representatives from rural pubs and venues.
Many nationally and locally famous and infamous individuals, groups and bands were in attendance throughout the rally including; Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins
Melissa "Missy" Morrison Higgins is an Australian pop singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Her No. 1 albums in Australia are The Sound of White and On a Clear Night , and her Top Ten singles are "Scar", "The Special Two", "Steer" and "Where I Stood". From a musical family in...
, Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey is the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of Australian rock group Something for Kate. Paul was a founding member of the band, and in August 2009 released his first solo album, Everything Is True whilst continuing his work with Something for Kate...
(Something For Kate
Something for Kate
Something for Kate are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Members include songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Dempsey, drummer Clint Hyndman and bassist Stephanie Ashworth...
), Tim Rogers
Tim Rogers
Tim Rogers is the frontman of Australian rock band You Am I. He is also a solo artist, as well as having fronted and released albums with bands The Twin Set and The Temperance Union.-History:...
(You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
), Wilbur Wilde
Wilbur Wilde
Wilbur Wilde is an Australian saxophonist. He rose to prominence with the bands Ol' 55, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons...
, Kram
Mark Maher
Kram is the drummer/singer of Australian band Spiderbait. His stage name is an anagram of his first name; "Kram" is simply "Mark" spelled backwards...
(Spiderbait
Spiderbait
Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Finley in 1989 by bass guitarist Janet English, singer-drummer Mark Maher , and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004 the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart...
), Scott Owen
Scott Owen
Scott Bradley Owen plays the double bass in the Australian rock band The Living End. After playing the piano for many years, he decided that the keys would not work for a rockabilly band, so at age 17 he purchased and taught himself double bass, letting him play rockabilly with best friend and...
(The Living End
The Living End
The Living End are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 1994. The current lineup consists of Chris Cheney , Scott Owen and Andy Strachan...
), Clare Bowditch, Cut Copy
Cut Copy
Cut Copy are an Australian electronic band formed in 2001 by Dan Whitford on vocals, keyboard and guitar. Other members are Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, Ben Browning on bass guitar and Mitchell Scott on drums. Their second album, In Ghost Colours peaked at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart in...
, Pikelet
Evelyn Morris
Evelyn Morris, also known as Pikelet, is a musician from the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Although she'd played piano from a young age she began her career in music as a hardcore/punk obsessed drummer, performing in many bands but mostly in Baseball and True Radical Miracle. In 2003 she...
, My Disco
My Disco
My Disco is an Australian rock band.-Background:Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, their first public appearance was performed at The Good Morning Captain, a cafe in Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne...
, Amanda Palmer
Amanda Palmer
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
and many others. The rally was the largest in support of live music in Australia's history. Notably, the rally was alcohol free.
Background
In 2007, new liquor licensing laws were introduced as a measure to alleviate alcohol-related violence in the city. Restrictions were subsequently placed on small music venues, classifying them as high risk and requiring them to have abundant security. These restrictions caused the cessation of live music performance in some venues, forced the closure of the iconic Tote HotelThe Tote Hotel
The Tote Hotel is a hotel, pub, bar and music venue on 71 Johnston Street, the corner of Johnston and Wellington Streets, in Collingwood, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
, and threatened the closure of several other small live music venues.
Upon the closure of The Tote Hotel in January 2010, several social networking groups were created in opposition to the closure of the venue, one such group reached 20,000 members, and within 2 days a rally was organised. On 17 January, a crowd of between 2,000 and 5,000 rallied outside the venue, closing traffic to two major roads in Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, an inner city suburb of Melbourne.
The Tote rally sparked moderate public and political debate about the effect these laws were having on small music venues and quickly grew to encompass other venues which host musical performance and lack of government investment and support of live music in general. The rally also forced the State government to open discussions between the state government and local music industry representatives in fear of losing marginal inner city seats at the 2010 Victorian State election, though no action was taken on amending the laws to remove restrictions on small live music venues.
A new body Music Victoria was established and several community groups began organising a much larger rally to encompass the wider spectrum that the issue now covered. Subsequently, another rally was organised for 23 February 2010.
Route and events
The rally was scheduled to begin at 4pm at the Victorian State Library. A large crowd began to grow from around 3pm, building to cover the top end of Swanston Street and State Library surrounds by 4pm. Attendees were rallied by MC Brian Nankervis accompanied by a band on the back of a flat tray truck. The truck proceeded southwards down Swanston StreetSwanston Street, Melbourne
Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. It is historically one of the main streets of central Melbourne, laid out in 1837 as part of the Hoddle Grid, the layout of major streets that makes up the central business district...
, before stopping and turning left, eastwards up Bourke Street
Bourke Street, Melbourne
Bourke Street is one of Melbourne's best known streets. Historically been regarded as Melbourne's "second street", with the main street being Collins Street and "busier than Bourke Street" is a popular catchphrase. Bourke Street has traditionally been Melbourne's entertainment hub...
by 4:30pm. ultimately arriving at Parliament House on Spring Street
Spring Street, Melbourne
Spring Street is a major street in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly north-south, and is the easternmost street in the Hoddle Grid. The street travels from Flinders Street in the south, to La Trobe Street and the Carlton Gardens in the north...
around 5pm.
Upon arrival at Parliament House, the rally began to grow in size north and southwards on Spring Street and building back down Bourke Street. AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to The Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll)" was then performed on a temporary stage on the steps of Parliament House with the original pipers from the AC/DC music video. Sometime after 5pm speakers and further musical performances were held on the temporary stage, concluding around 6:15pm.
Attendees
Estimates of the number of attendees range from 10,000 to 50,000 with the average sitting at around 20,000. The overwhelming majority of attendees were local musicians and patrons of local music. There were also many artists, photographers and other patrons of the arts. The crowd also included small collections of unionists, gay and lesbian rights supporters and other groups.Speakers
- Brian Nankervis (MC)
- Paul Kelly
- Rick Dempsey
- Wilbur Wilde
- PikeletEvelyn MorrisEvelyn Morris, also known as Pikelet, is a musician from the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Although she'd played piano from a young age she began her career in music as a hardcore/punk obsessed drummer, performing in many bands but mostly in Baseball and True Radical Miracle. In 2003 she...
(Evelyn Morris) - Missy HigginsMissy HigginsMelissa "Missy" Morrison Higgins is an Australian pop singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Her No. 1 albums in Australia are The Sound of White and On a Clear Night , and her Top Ten singles are "Scar", "The Special Two", "Steer" and "Where I Stood". From a musical family in...
- Andy Sugg website
- Quincy Mclean
Signs and placards
- Live Music, Low Risk - SLAM
- Don't Kill Live Music - SLAM
- I'm a musician, not a drunk thug
- Blunderstruck
- Melbourne - live music capital
- Music Doesn't Cause Violence - The Greens
- Are we in Sydney?
- Don't Make Melbourne Perth
- Save our rural pubs
- It's a long way to the top if you ain't got nowhere to play
- Don't make bands sad
- I love music and I vote
- I Tote and i vote
Effect
Although part of the desired effect was strategically announced by John Brumby on the morning of the rally, the rally afforded a high attendance. This can be attributed to the lack of clarity and commitment by the State Labor Government on the amendments to the laws, the lack of consideration of licensing fees and the lack of any sort of announcement for increased governmental support of the arts. The rally was also seen by many attendees as a celebration of live music.Many attendees voiced harsh displeasure directed at Liberal MPs on the steps of Parliament House and unseen Labor MPs, many displaying derogatory signs, one such reading "Liberal Fuck Off". Many observers related that it appears as though the State Labor Government has lost many traditionally Labor-voting music industry patrons to Liberal and more importantly, the Greens. Many of the speakers at the rally related their predictions that Labor would lose marginal inner city seats at the 2010 Victorian State election to the Greens and/or Liberal parties.
Controversies
There was criticism of Premier John BrumbyJohn Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
in both mainstream, public and independent media, regarding his announcement of changes to liquor licensing laws being timed for the morning of the day of the rally. This was seen by many as an attempt to negate the effect of the rally, although anecdotally it didn't appear to have any impact on attendance.
Other controversy included public exclusion on the steps of Parliament House, access only being granted to pre-approved media and photographic personnel, which did not include local music media such as FasterLouder and others. In addition to exclusive media access, Liberal MPs were also granted access to the steps of Parliament House to hold up placards reading "Brumby's Liquor Fees Killing Live Music" and "Liberal's Love Live Music". The gestures of these Liberal MPs were viewed by the crowd as being token and ingenuine, and the MPs were booed several times as speakers referred to them in their respective speeches. Notably, none of the three Greens MPs advertised signage of any kind on the steps.
Quotes
"Looking at the live music culture outside Victoria, we count ourselves lucky to live and be actively involved in the Melbourne music scene. Venue closures throughout Sydney and Brisbane have forced live music to struggle in inner city suburban homes, warehouses, art spaces and anywhere that will host it in a desperate effort to save a once flourishing community. As venue owners in our city now face increased licensing fees, cut backs on hours of operation and strict decibel restriction, we are forced to realize that without active community participation, Melbourne could soon become a mere shadow of what was once heralded as the greatest live music community in the southern hemisphere." - My DiscoMy Disco
My Disco is an Australian rock band.-Background:Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, their first public appearance was performed at The Good Morning Captain, a cafe in Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne...
, in a statement prior to the rally.
"As far as I’m concerned, the small venue is a centre of community cohesion, people know each other, and they’re drawn together. nobody goes there looking for trouble, we all know that. If there’s a few blow-ins and they’ve strayed into the wrong place and they’re trying to start something, they may as well try to start something in a local church. It’s like trying to strike a match against a damp cloth: no chance of fire. The government’s worried about community violence, so are we all. Music and small venues are something that enriches local identity, social responsibility and cohesion. For many of us, it’s the nearest thing to real living culture that we can experience. And we in the inner suburbs are lucky to have our small pubs and bars and restaurants. I understand the social function and humanitarian value of live music, that’s part of a way of life, as much as food, drink, conversation and laughter are. Shortly after my gig folded due to the financial impracticality of employing two crown controllers insisted by the liquor licensing directorate, the same body approved two clubs in the Docklands area. One with a capacity of 750 people, the other with a capacity of 1500. It’s unlikely that either of these places will employ live musicians, it’s equally unlikely that any of the patrons that frequent these places will create social networks through attending these venues. These places are anonymous. The staff will not become familiar with any one of the sea of faces that pass through. And these faces drawn from places that know no community, from places with no other life than the shopping mall, certainly no local gigs, to get as drunk as they can, be ejected by security to continue their binge free of identification, other than by the cold eye of the security camera on the street or the train station, where they can vent their frustration, their alienation, and their bored anger on some passing individual, as faceless to them as they have become to themselves. As for me, I’ll see you at the local gig if it’s still there." - Rick Dempster, from his speech at the rally.
Media coverage
The rally made the top three news items on every public and commercial television network news. Several local and independent media groups were also covering and filming the rally. Commercial news footage was shot from a helicopter.Several radio stations covered the proceedings prior to and during the rally itself, including ABC774, 3AW, PBS, Triple R, Triple M.