James Young, co-owner and booker of the venue says that one single complaint could see it forced to close down. It’s protecting itself with an expensive sound-proofing procedure, which involves a brick wall behind the stage area, double-glazing of all windows and the creation of a two-door soundproof bubble entrance.
Cherry Bar has already paid a substantial amount to research the procedure. Now it’s turning to music fans – via crowd sourcing on PledgeMusic – to help with the costs of sound-proofing. PledgeMusic is helping out by absorbing all transaction fees and donating back 5% of monies raised.
The campaign, launched today, is at pledgemusic.com/projects/savecherry. Within the first few hours, 24% of the target had already been reached.
For $5,000 you get free life’s entry to Cherry Bar. Fork out between $60 to $500 and you get the option of having your name, business or band on one of 100 bricks for the sound-proof wall. For between $18 to $40 there is an assortment of ‘I Saved Rock’n’Roll’ T-shirts, stubby holders and bumper sticks. There is also a 7-track digital EP featuring donated songs from seven Cherry regulars – Drunk Mums, Child, Hits, Fuck, The Fitzroy Doom Scene, Matt Sonic & The High Times, Dead City Ruins and Palace of the King.
James Young says, “In some senses this is a sad story. It really is not fair that the venue has to pay for this sound-proofing. It should be the developers’ cost. And it’s not fair that we have to turn to the cash-strapped public and ask for their help to contribute half of our building costs, but I’ve sat through dozens of well intentioned meetings that go round and round in circles without ever providing a solution for the poor threatened live music venues.
“The conclusion I’ve come to is…to avoid confrontation is the best course of action: to soundproof Cherry so we are compliant and beyond reproach and above complaints from our new neighbours and can 100% stay alive and continue to support live music. This is what must be done and in order to do it, we need help, we need your help. Please help us save rock n roll. Please help save Cherry Bar in AC/DC Lane. Thank you.”
