Goodness – it’s been a year since the SLAM Rally galvanised Melbourne’s music community to bring an estimated 20,000 people to take to the streets in support of the group’s attempts to overturn oppressive liquor licensing laws in Victoria which unfathomably linked live music and violent behaviour, and to attempt to have these onerous licensing conditions overturned.
The former Labor Government capitulated on the issue and offered a wide range of pork barrelling initiatives to curry favour with live music fans. Although many music fans saw through these blatant vote buying initiatives, the end result amongst the wider voting public was the installation of a Liberal Government. While this unfortunately does not bode well for live music in Victoria, it shows the music community that we all have to keep banding together to ensure we can keep Victoria – and especially Melbourne’s – world renowned repuation as the live music capital of the Southern Hemisphere.
Whilst the music community might have to band together to stick it to the Liberals this time around, it’s great to know that there’s going to be a ‘reunion’ of sorts to celebrate the achievements of the Slam Rally and those supporting the continual existence of live music in Melbourne. It’s – where else? – going to be held at The Tote!
To be held on Wednesday 23rd February – yes this Wednesday! – it’s going to feature performances from Angie Hart, EVEN, Glenn Richards, Dan Sultan, Gun Street Girls, Kim Salmon’s Precious Jules, Paris Wells, Oh Mercy, Spencer P Jones, The Panics, Wedgetail and the Wolfgramm Sisters.
Tickets are on sale now via The Corner box office for just $20, and in the unlikely event it doesn’t sell out, it’ll be $25 on the door.
