What have you liked about previous Darebin festivals?
Community vibe, fun atmosphere and great performances.
In recent years, the affordability belt has moved from Fitzroy through to Northcote and Thornbury, and is now through Preston and Reservoir. Will musicians, and music venues, follow that affordability belt?
I hope so! I’m moving out from Coburg to the west soon. There better be good places to see live music when I get there.
Do you think there’s a danger that people can take the music scene for granted in Darebin, and elsewhere in Melbourne, especially given the difficulty for musicians to make a living from music and the pressure of rising rental and venue operation costs?
Definitely. When the gentrification of Northcote and Thornbury is complete and drives musicians and artists out, most of the band venues and pubs will become apartments or snooty gastro pubs with no pulse. See the Birmingham Hotel on Smith St as an example.
In that context, what could be done to improve the opportunities for live music in Darebin?
Make more funding accessible for arts and music related projects. Make housing more affordable in the inner suburbs.
