Following what’s been a turbulent year for Melbourne’s music venues, with many live institutions closing their doors while a number of new sites continue to spring up in the areas orbiting the CBD, but organisers in the City of Yarra are set to utilise many local venues as part of a new music festival.
As the Melbourne Leader reports, the new Yarra Live Music Festival is set to take place this July and will make use of existing venues and music hotspots throughout the municipality’s many suburbs. With plenty of venues to drawn from in areas such as Abbotsford, Carlton North, Collingwood, and Fitzroy.
Though no venues or further details have been revealed, council organisers have appointed an impressive team of producers, pooled from the local music industry, to help put the festival together.
The list of names includes Jon Perring, co-owner of The Tote (who have a new band booker), Mary Mihelakos of Stage Mothers, Jason Moore from Way Over There, local booker Justin Rudge, as well as support from Music Victoria.
The producers are tasked with putting together a lineup for the Yarra Live Music Festival as well as attracting the all-important sponsors, government grants, and investors to help with the estimated $125,000 running cost. “Yarra contains some of the most dynamic music suburbs in the world and it will be exciting to throw the spotlight on it in July.” – Patrick Donovan, Music Victoria
“The production team Council has selected to organise the festival has the experience, networks and know-how to bring that community together in original and interesting ways,” said Yarra Council Mayor Jackie Fristacky, who’s constituents provided $35,000 last year to launch the festival.
“Live music provides the soundtrack for many people’s lives in Yarra,” Cr Fristacky said, emphasising the key role that live music plays in the cultural identity and economy of the area. “Yarra is fortunate to have a thriving community of established and emerging artists that is well served by music-loving venues and community radio stations.”
Patrick Donovan, chief of Music Victoria, said the new music event could become an annual event if its launch was deemed successful. “Yarra contains some of the most dynamic music suburbs in the world and it will be exciting to throw the spotlight on it in July,” he said.
