The S.L.A.M Rally (Save Live Australia’s Music) is a non-politically aligned, independent entity made up of musicians and music-lovers.
In a bid to address street violence, Liquor Licensing Victoria (LLV) has introduced sweeping changes with unintended consequences for the local music scene. The LLV is being asked to make simple changes immediately, and to acknowledge that there is no link between live music and street violence.
Personally, I’ve never been at a live music venue and felt threatened. Or scared. Or witnessed any form of violence. But I have been at the football and felt and witnessed such things. And along King Street. As the Editor of a publication that supports musicians, and all facets of the arts, from all around this great country of ours, I’m disgusted with the constant lack of support the Australian Government and private companies fail to offer the music industry. More so, I’m astounded that music venues are getting shut down because of a small minority of wankers. Most of which have nothing to do with music or soul or life or anything that resembles good in this world. No other state in Australia quite has a music scene like Melbournes – ours is unique, and quite simply, the best. But if we continue to close down iconic venues (most recently Collingwood’s The Tote was shut down), and quash the musicians that love playing there too – well, we might all be listening to American pop tunes from a crappy speaker on a Sunday afternoon…instead of listening to some relaxing live acoustic. And that’s something I can’t really come to.
On the 23rd of February, coinciding with the 34th anniversary of AC/DC’s famous ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ film clip shoot down Swanston Street, S.L.A.M. is protesting in support and celebration of Victoria’s music scene, where new liquor licensing laws threaten to pull the plug on live music.
Above: Rally organiser and music producer Quincy McLean
Rally organiser, former Blue Ruin singer and independent music producer, Quincy McLean, has contacted Victoria Police and Melbourne City Council to secure a permit for the protest. He said, “this is going to happen whether they like it or not. There’s too much momentum, it’s too big to stop. It’s like Moomba with a message. Whenever a natural disaster happens, musicians are the first to put their hand up to offer support. Now it’s time for the public, who get music free online and on the radio to give support back to the music they love so much.
“The only way left for musicians to make money is through live music, and that rug is suddenly being pulled out from underneath them. It’s the 2am lockout all over again. It failed in the UK, then failed here.”
As legendary Australian musician Paul Kelly says, “the venues most adversely affected by one size fits all licensing laws are precisely those venues which encourage local culture and responsible use of alcohol. They are the venues that people go to hear homegrown music. Places where people know and look out for each other; where musicians and songwriters learn their craft, where ideas are exchanged. You might say they are community art centres. Melbourne’s independent music scene has a worldwide reputation – rich, diverse and fertile. Don’t kill it, legislators. Don’t destroy what makes Melbourne unique.”
Meet at 4pm outside the State Library in Melbourne next Tuesday the 23 of February to make your way along Swanston Street and up Bourke Street to Parliament House.
S.L.A.M is in desperate need of volunteers next Tuesday – if you can help in any way, please get in touch by emailing SLAMvolunteers@hotmail.com.
For more information on SLAM visit their website.