Overview
Flume and Lorde at Goodgod. Flight Facilities at Piano Room. Cloud Control at Spectrum. They're gigs we probably didn't realise were bloody important at the time, in live music venues we poured our pocket money into. And now, these now-closed venues are getting the funeral they deserve. In a visually provocative response to the NSW Government's controversial lockout laws and the highly debated Callinan review, Keep Sydney Open has installed 18 plaques commemorating Sydney live music venues which have closed down.
Spearheaded by Sydney music writer and activist Jonathan Seidler and backed by Keep Sydney Open, this project features plaques emblazoned with the name of an internationally successful artist who cut their teeth, met future bandmates or held residencies at the particular venue they're installed at. Most artists are Sydney locals like Flight Facilities, Rufus, The Presets and The Preatures, but our adopted Kiwi neighbour Lorde is also in the mix (she played her first ever showcase at Goodgod Small Club).
Where can you find the plaques? They've been installed, with supporting funeral flowers and candles, at once-buzzing, now-closed venues throughout the lockout zone — from Kings Cross stalwarts Hugos and Piano Room, to Oxford Street go-tos Phoenix and Spectrum, Chippendale's The Lansdowne, to the CBD's Goodgod Small Club (now reopened as Plan B). Each Friday night, KSO volunteers will be handing out flowers and candles, if you're wanting to pay your respects to the now-closed venues.
"It sends a clear message to the government that live music cannot survive without live music venues, which is where our world-beating talent first hone their craft," stated Keep Sydney Open, who pointed out that live music contributes $2 billion annually to Australia's economy (and that more Australians see live music every year than see sport).
Sure, some live music venues are now exempt from the lockout laws, but after reports that Sydney venues had lost up to 40 percent of their revenue since the introduction of the laws, here's hoping it wasn't too late a move.
Here's where you'll find the plaques:
Keep Sydney Open's plaques are now installed throughout the city until further notice. They're also holding a huge rally protesting the lockout laws and the Calinan review on October 9. Details here.