{"id":2458886,"date":"2026-06-14T11:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T11:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2458886"},"modified":"2026-06-14T11:22:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T11:22:27","slug":"new-music-festival-to-fuel-rocknroll-recovery-in-victoria-with-100-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/new-music-festival-to-fuel-rocknroll-recovery-in-victoria-with-100-events\/","title":{"rendered":"New music festival to fuel rock\u2019n\u2019roll recovery in Victoria with 100 events"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<header class=\"sc-ad76bc40-0 fNDZoQ\">\n<p class=\"sc-578b4fe0-0 kALkOW\"><span class=\"sc-578b4fe0-1 iNa-DKj\">This was published <!-- -->3 years<!-- --> ago<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-5cbbddda-0 hjlPcO\">\n<div data-testid=\"article-author\" class=\"sc-5cbbddda-1 hPBdKJ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-0 efdRpd noPrint\" data-testid=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"sc-7132c98c-1 iddmiW\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 kskMyR sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button aria-label=\"Set font size to normal\" aria-pressed=\"true\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 yiNod\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to larger\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqtnv\">A<\/button><button aria-label=\"Set font size to very large\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"sc-f7fd8257-1 frqrHP\">A<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<aside class=\"sc-6f94ac39-6 esmrVF\"\/>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Victoria will stage Australia\u2019s largest and most ambitious contemporary music festival, with more than 100 events across Melbourne and the state, as the Andrews government and leading promoters seek to reboot a live entertainment scene unplugged by the pandemic and lockdowns.<\/p>\n<p>Always Live, the brainchild of the late Michael Gudinski, is the first attempt to create a permanent home within Melbourne\u2019s major events calendar for contemporary live music, with this year\u2019s season to be punctuated by two events already on sale &#8211; Nick Cave at Hanging Rock and Billy Joel at the MCG &#8211; and a third blockbuster concert to be announced in coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The full program will include stadium concerts in Melbourne and regional centres, country festivals, smaller pub and rooftop gigs and associated industry events concentrated from late November to mid-December.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Music-starved punters queue outside Richmond\u2019s Corner Hotel for a Cate Le Bon gig earlier this month.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.18%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/2cc4e59bf55e415deb8c33b6975497084ecda290 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Music-starved punters queue outside Richmond\u2019s Corner Hotel for a Cate Le Bon gig earlier this month.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Simon  Fazio<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Although the concept was personally championed and developed by Gudinski, the founding chair of Always Live, it has been embraced by rival promoters, with Live Nation Asia Pacific president Roger Field and TEG chief executive Geoff Jones backing the festival and Cabinet\u2019s decision to appoint Matthew Gudinksi, Michael\u2019s son and heir to the Mushroom music empire, to the chairman\u2019s role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Field welcomed the creation of Always Live, a fully government-funded, not-for-profit company established with a single, explicit objective: to put Victoria and Melbourne atop the live music charts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is hard to get anything other than absolute blockbuster music events on the agenda when you are competing with the grand prix or title fights or international soccer games,\u201d Field said. \u201cIf Victoria and Melbourne want to consolidate themselves as the music capital, it is appropriate to have something that is just focused on music and live entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <em>The Age<\/em> from London, Matt Gudinski said his father had talked for more than 20 years about the need for a contemporary music event to showcase Melbourne\u2019s industry and venues and deliver economic benefits to the state.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDad\u2019s vision was contemporary music should have a platform just like Melbourne\u2019s incredibly successful comedy festival,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would be an umbrella that all promoters could position events under but would also showcase music in all shapes and forms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToo often people are dismissive of contemporary music but when every hotel room, venue and restaurant is full in Melbourne and the state is buzzing, I think people will truly understand the vision Dad originally had.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Gudinski first pitched the concept of Always Live to Premier Daniel Andrews after he helped the premier and his wife Catherine secure tickets to see Joel at New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden in 2017. From there, the idea of using government money to bring the Piano Man to Melbourne morphed into a 2018 election promise to stage a 10-day, statewide music festival.<\/p>\n<p>The creation of a standalone season for live music in Victoria will add to the frenetic competition between state governments for the post-pandemic domestic tourist dollar, with NSW this week announcing its plans to host in October 2023 a version of South by Southwest, a cultural and business festival created in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n<p>So far, 43 per cent of tickets sold for Always Live events have been bought by people who live outside of Victoria. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said the festival would deliver a boost to regional economies, with thousands of concert goers expected to book local accommodation and restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>Geoff Jones said once Always Live became established as an annual event, it would encourage promoters to bring out international acts to coincide with the festival. \u201cIt gives us an opportunity to be the focus, not just across one Billy Joel or Eminem concert, but multiple events at a variety of levels,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will grow and blossom from this first-year experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.378%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/a537db0037cd8f88a7c465851243fb778b0ff518 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Always Live receives $13.5 million in funding \u2013 nearly all its revenue \u2013 from Visit Victoria, the government\u2019s major events and tourism promotions agency. Visit Victoria also approves the appointment of its board members other than the chair, who is appointed by cabinet.<\/p>\n<p>To accommodate Michael Gudinski as founding chairman of Always Live, Visit Victoria chairman Janet Whiting, an experienced commercial lawyer and president of the council of trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria, established strict rules to manage conflicts of interest on the board.<\/p>\n<p>The company\u2019s constitution prohibits directors from entering into contracts in which they have a personal material interest. A procurement subcommittee chaired by Village Roadshow\u2019s John Kirby decides which acts to include in the Always Live program.<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Gudinski said: \u201cThere are rigorous, formal processes in place that preclude me from participating in the assessment and decisions on whether to support any pitch to Always Live from Frontier Touring or any other Mushroom Group related entity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Always Live board includes leading entertainment industry accountant Michael Roseby, Melbourne performer Clare Bowditch and Roundhouse Entertainment co-founder Anthea Newton. Jones and Field said they were comfortable with the board make-up and company structure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 jtDZiB\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_1.2063%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_2.4127%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_1.1587%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_2.3175%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Michael Gudinski championed the idea of a contemporary live music festival to benefit the entertainment industry and broader economy.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.258%2C$multiply_3.0899%2C$ratio_0.666667%2C$width_378%2C$x_361%2C$y_122\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/11f0cc66153329188e82c455a0906447c4c36a68 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 bRhmzR\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Michael Gudinski championed the idea of a contemporary live music festival to benefit the entertainment industry and broader economy.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Simon Schluter<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI have no concern about Matt being the chair,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI know he is an honourable man; he is a music man and he wants the best for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Plans for a music festival and Joel concert, provisionally scheduled for the winter of 2020, were mothballed by the pandemic. During Melbourne\u2019s protracted lockdown, Michael Gudinski and Andrews developed a close friendship, with the Premier sharing the entrepreneur\u2019s passion for vinyl records, single malt whiskey and reviving the state\u2019s moribund live music scene.<\/p>\n<p>In the depths of Melbourne\u2019s second wave lockdown, Gudinski expressed optimism about his industry and city\u2019s capacity to recover. \u201cMelbourne is famous for the things that have been most affected, but we aren\u2019t throwing in the towel,\u201d he told <em>The Age<\/em> at the time. \u201cWe will be very keen as soon as we can get started. Hopefully, that is not as far off as people think. \u201d<\/p>\n<p>He died in March last year at the age of 68, while the pandemic was still raging. A statue of Michael Gudinski outside the Rod Laver Arena was this year unveiled by rock icon Jimmy Barnes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>Gudinski\u2019s original idea for Always Live was a 17-day festival spanning three weekends and featuring a \u201cmonster\u201d event on each weekend. Always Live chief executive Steve Smith, a well-connected entertainment industry consultant who previously ran Australian Radio Network Melbourne, said the 2022 program would be \u201clooser\u201d in structure and spread across the year.<\/p>\n<p>Some Always Live branded events have already been staged, with the Foo Fighters playing a one-off show in Geelong and more recently, Welsh indie-pop artist Cate Le Bon playing in Melbourne and Castlemaine. Later this month, K-pop group Epik High will play an Always Live gig at Forum Melbourne.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"sc-4820f69c-1 ZrhPA\"><button aria-label=\"enlarge image\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-5 dyWwUw\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-d34e428-0 ikzfwY\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_0.9841%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_1.9683%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 750px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_1.0159%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_2.0317%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cate Le Bon takes to the stage at the Corner Hotel in Richmond.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.24%2C$multiply_1.545%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_252\/t_crop_custom\/q_62%2Cf_auto\/0ba366c278a6c546dfb4a179c06cf7003d70be70 2x\" class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 38 38\" height=\"38px\" width=\"38px\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-4 iMiYlW\"><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 22.029383, 7.619553)\"><path d=\"M1 8l6.36396103-6.36396103M8 7V1H2\"\/><\/g><g stroke=\"#F4F5F7\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"matrix(1, 0, 0, 1, 7.0731, 21.523087)\"><path d=\"M8 1L1.63603897 7.36396103M1 2v6h6\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/button><figcaption data-testid=\"figure-caption\" class=\"sc-4820f69c-0 SuAZY\"><span>Cate Le Bon takes to the stage at the Corner Hotel in Richmond.<\/span><cite class=\"sc-4820f69c-2 jfXEoI\"><span class=\"sc-4820f69c-3 jfhtQZ\">Simon Fazio<\/span><\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe appetite is there now, we are encouraging people to gather and use music as a great tonic for getting back to life,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n<p>Smith said events chosen for the program would either be exclusive, like the Joel concert, or unique in setting or content. Government funds will be used to lower production costs so promoters and venues can book acts for performances that would otherwise be commercially marginal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-c502198b-0 NkURW\">\n<p>\u201cIf it is not exclusive there will be something special about the event,\u201d he said. \u201cThe economic impact is a consideration with any event we are putting on but second to that, and really importantly, it is to promote Melbourne, Victoria and the suburbs to further cement the envious position of the live music capital of Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aidan McLaren, the co-founder of the Ocean Sounds festival at Churchill Island, said that without financial support from Always Live, he wouldn\u2019t have been able to secure Melbourne singer\/songwriter Tash Sultana as the headline act. \u201cIt is Tash\u2019s only show in Victoria for the year,\u201d he said. \u201cFingers crossed that this is a regular summer and people want to get back out and support live music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the start of this year, Always Live invited expressions of interest from promoters, festival operators and venue managers looking to be part of the program. Shows have so far been confirmed in Melbourne, Geelong, Queenscliff, Echuca, Horsham and the historic, Goldfields town of Carisbrook. The full program is expected be announced within the next month.<\/p>\n<p><strong><i>The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. <\/i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/newsletter-signup?newsletter=am&amp;utm_source=EditorialArticle&amp;utm_medium=ArticleText&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletters\"><i>Sign up here<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"article-footer\" class=\"sc-780f6c39-0 fWnQtB\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-1 bhFzjY noPrint\">\n<div class=\"sc-780f6c39-2 ksUUFP\">\n<div class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-0 kbEYga sc-780f6c39-3 fMMhlQ\"><button aria-checked=\"false\" aria-label=\"Save article to read later\" role=\"switch\" type=\"button\" class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-1 kmQlMe\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" height=\"24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" class=\"sc-d1b14060-0 TUyao\"><path d=\"M5.75 4C5.75 3.86193 5.86193 3.75 6 3.75H18C18.1381 3.75 18.25 3.86193 18.25 4L18.25 19.7709L12.8004 16.9682C12.2981 16.7099 11.7019 16.7099 11.1996 16.9682L5.75 19.7709L5.75 4Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"sc-f9e3ccff-2 gaKrMl\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sc-ba6ddcd9-0 yEdFV sc-d1b14060-3 cpmcTK\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-0 ksyHqK\">\n<div class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-1 LVIFj\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chip Le Grand\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40%2Ch_40%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c933d487c0923e425b125b59fa4140f217688025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_40%2Ch_40%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c933d487c0923e425b125b59fa4140f217688025, https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/w_80%2Ch_80%2Cc_fill%2Cg_auto:faces\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/c933d487c0923e425b125b59fa4140f217688025 2x\" width=\"40\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 libeSR\"\/><span data-testid=\"author-bio\" class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-3 cVMGnz\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm sc-b5b9fd03-2 jcGta-D\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/by\/chip-le-grand-p4yvib\">Chip Le Grand<\/a> leads our state politics reporting team. He previously served as the paper\u2019s chief reporter and is a journalist of 30 years\u2019 experience.<\/span><span class=\"sc-b5b9fd03-4 gMBkSk\">Connect via <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm sc-b5b9fd03-5 czsZcI\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/culture\/music\/mailto:chip.legrand@theage.com.au\">email<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-3dbe4134-0 iIZygf sc-df8e6ee0-0 noPrint noPrint\" data-an-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-group=\"everything\" data-an-cu-name=\"From our partners\" data-an-cu-position=\"4\" data-testid=\"from-our-partners-strap\">\n<header class=\"sc-84567ec1-0 hpMljf\">\n<h2 data-pb-type=\"hi\" class=\"sc-84567ec1-1 weWOF\"><span>From our partners<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.smh.com.au \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This was published 3 years ago Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA Victoria will stage Australia\u2019s largest and most ambitious contemporary music festival, with more than 100 events across Melbourne and the state, as the Andrews government and leading promoters seek [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2458887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/New-music-festival-to-fuel-rocknroll-recovery-in-Victoria-with.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458886"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2458888,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458886\/revisions\/2458888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2458887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}