A range diverse range of jazz musicians, reggae artists, hip hop performer and Indigenous RnB acts will be hitting the road, with thanks to the Federal Government ho have today announced $200,000 in funding to the Australian music scene.
Following his response to making Australian media headlines with his mad rap rhymes, the Minister for the Arts Simon Crean has today announced that the $200k would fund the new Contemporary Music Touring Program, which will see some of the country’s best contemporary musicians taking their music and shared experiences to audiences across Australia.
“The Contemporary Music Touring Program will see regional areas such as Goolwa, Castlemaine, Wollongong and Geraldton treated to performances by some of Australia’s top musical talent,” Mr Crean said, noting that the program would include 2013, 309 performances and 141 workshops in 281 venues across Australia.
“Australia’s music, art and culture belongs to us all and the Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australians, no matter where they live, have equal opportunity to access and engage with it,” he added. “The tours not only involve performances, but also workshops and other additional activities with local communities, creating a richer shared experience, and demonstrating the real career pathways available to professional musicians.”
Jen Cloher – who is currently on tour to promote her 7” split release with Courtney Barnett – is just one of many home-grown artists who are offering their services, in her I Manage My Music workshop program, which provides day long workshop for budding music managers.“The tours not only involve performances, but also workshops and other additional activities with local communities, creating a richer shared experience…”
Mr. Creannoted that “Contemporary Music Touring Program funding will allow [Jen Cloher] to take her tour to Canberra, Brisbane, Mullumbimby, Adelaide and Hobart.”
Other notable highlights of the program include $15,000 in funding handed to folk singer Jordie Lane, nearly the same amount going to aid snappy Adelaide indie-pop outfit The Savaladors, and contemporary jazz performer Jade Leonard – who’ll be getting a nearly $10,000 boost in Government Funding.
Minister Crean called the Melbourne-based Leonard as “one of the highlights” of the program, “who will take her unique in-home performances, called Jazz At Your Place, across Victoria.”
The news of the $200,000 handout to musicians comes as the government finalises a revision of Australia’s National Cultural Policy, the first in nearly two decades. “The $3 million the Australian Government invested in contemporary music in this year’s budget will produce dividends for the nation,” said Mr. Crean last week in his keynote address spruiking Aussie bands at the Music Connects India conference in Mumbai. “Which is why the Australian Government is supporting our music industry to strengthen our engagement with the Asia region at an artistic and business level.”
Applications for funding for tours commencing from March 4th, 2013 are now open through the Australia Council.
You can view the list of 17 tours to receive a share of the Government funding below:
· $15,000 for Jordie Lane, folk/alternative country singer and guitarist – The Winner Tour
· $8,838 for Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea, folk rock group – In Blood Memory Album Tour.
· $10,800 for Glenn Skuthorpe, country/rock singer – Great Beyonder Album Launch
· $14,995 for The Salvadors, pop/rock band – Holy Drunken Fisherman Tour
· $15,000 for The Strides, reggae/afrobeat/hip hop band – Rasta Live Tour
· $14,925 for Mark Hilton and the Two Few & Dave Garnham and the Reasons to Live, country blues bands – Imperial Carpetbaggers Tour
· $9,254 for The McMenamins, folk/alternative country duo – 4th Album Tour
· $15,000 for Penny and the Mystics, roots/rock/reggae/funk band – Expansion Tour
· $13,300 for The Vampires, jazz band – The Vampires Tour
· $5,110 for Anonymeye, experimental folk act – Summer of Anonymeye Tour
· $15,000 for Ensemble Offspring, contemporary classical group – Blow Your Own Tune
· $9,000 for Two River Blues, blues band – Album Launch Tour
· $15,000 for Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, contemporary jazz orchestra – 10th Anniversary Tour
· $9,841 for Jade Leonard, contemporary jazz singer and pianist – Jazz at Your Place Tour
· $8,108 for Matty Rogers, blues performer – On the Road Tour
· $10,000 for B2M, Indigenous R’n’B band – Music on the Moil Tour
