Live music fans can look forward to a summer celebration with the return of the St Kilda Festival (SKF) in February next year.
The pandemic caused the 2021 SKF to be cancelled for only the second time since it began in 1980.
After considering the vaccination rollout and the huge economic benefits to the City, the show will go on with our Council green-lighting a modified COVIDSafe Festival for 2022.
Instead of a one-day event, the Festival will be held from 5-13 February, subject to Victorian Government COVID-19 restrictions. The fun will be shared across three iconic sites - Acland Street, Fitzroy Street and South Beach Reserve by the foreshore.
Adding to the excitement, SKF will incorporate Yaluk-ut Weelam Ngargee, the annual First Peoples arts and cultural festival.
While planning a major event at this time is challenging, the SKF offers undeniable economic benefits. In the decade leading up to the 2020 event, the Festival brought an average of $22 million to St Kilda each year. This means money in the pockets of many members of the music, events and hospitality industries who have struggled to stay afloat over the past 18 months.
It's also an important opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate our City while supporting top Australian live music talent.
Details are being finalised so keep an eye on St Kilda Festival for updates about our flagship event.
With the return of the SKF still on the horizon, our Council is also doing what it can to help keep live music alive during 2021.
Last month we unveiled two initiatives under our Live Music Action Plan which are all about the "now".
In what is believed to be an Australian first for a council, the Please Don't Stop the Music lockdown assistance scheme is offering up to $5000 a week from 23 August to 31 December 2021 to local live music venues and promoters who must cancel gigs due to lockdowns. The support can be used to pay artists and crew who had been booked or for rescheduling costs.
Local musicians are encouraged to register now for the Locals Playing Locals database. Council will pay the artist fees for eligible venues engaging musicians from the database until 31 December. Applications will open when there is clarity on when live music restrictions will lift. A standard rate of $250 per musician will be available for each performance.
Great feedback has already been received from performers and venues.
Pat Pierce, half of the indie-folk Pierce Brothers band and a Port Phillip resident, said: "The lockdowns are absolutely necessary, but this time around it's really starting to sting now for us and other musos I talk with. Live music is the voice of this town and it's important for people to be able to start seeing the live talent when they can. The Council's LMAP will help venues and musos by providing some certainty and support."
Co-owner of St Kilda's MEMO Music Hall, Simon Myers, has been in the music industry for more than 30 years, including as a musician. "Council's financial support sends a clear message to artists that they are valued and will definitely assist in maintaining confidence in booking music in venues. Consistently rescheduling shows, without knowing whether they will actually go ahead, has a financial cost - and also can cost the audience's confidence," Mr Myers said. If live performances are cancelled, a contribution to the artists, crew and venue would also alleviate some financial hardship.
