Don’t Kill Live Music Rally – photos

When I first moved to Sydney in 2007, I couldn’t believe how vibrant the music scene was. It was incredible. There seemed to be a gig on every corner, every night, with amazing local bands doing thrilling things. Ghostwood, Mercy Arms, Bridezilla, Pinky Tuscadero and the like played exciting live shows in little venues to packed rooms. I watched the scene evolve and shift, places like OAF, Vegas and World Bar became my second homes – as a DJ and a punter – and I delighted in seeing bands such as The Preatures hone their skills in venues such as The Gaelic. Then, the heart was ripped out of this great city by the heavy-handed and entirely misjudged lockout laws. Watching the nightlife quickly die and its knock-on effect on other industries has been heartbreaking. And now, not content with destroying our nightlife, the NSW Government is coming for our festivals too, with the implementation of a controversial new music festival license.

In a statement, The Australian Festival Association have said, “The regulation guidelines as they now stand mean that any concert for over two thousand people with more than four performers, longer than five hours in duration or with more than one stage are likely to be at risk. From the Sydney Opera House, Olympic Park, Luna Park, the Hordern, wineries, showgrounds, beaches and community events, concerts like this happen across the state every weekend.”

“Every music lover in every city, town and regional area across NSW should be very concerned about what’s happening in NSW right now and if they care about live music and festivals they should make their voice heard.”

And this rallying cry certainly had an impact, as last week thousands upon thousands of protesters attended the Don’t Kill Live Music rally in Sydney, making their voices very much heard. Here are some photos from the event, taken by Something You Said photographer, Adam Davis-Powell. Click a thumbnail to enlarge.

Words by Bobby Townsend. Photos by Adam Davis-Powell.