The show goes on!
Melbourne Music Week has announced that it will return in November this year putting the city’s hurting live music venues centre stage.
Taking place as a five-day event from November 18 to 22, MMW will help reinvigorate a live music scene currently plagued by the coronavirus pandemic. The festival will be flexible to any social restrictions still in place and will bear a new, condensed format to ensure that it is safe and reflective of the situation.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp says that the festival will be more malleable and widespread, and be more accessible than ever.
“We’re breaking with tradition by not creating a Melbourne Music Week hub and will instead hold key events in bars and entertainment venues across the city. There will be free and ticketed events to support our hospitality businesses,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We want people to safely return to our venues and enjoy Melbourne’s famous live music scene. I’m thrilled that we’ll showcase a 100 per cent Australian and New Zealand line-up for the first time ever.”
Returning for its 11th year, Melbourne Music Week has proven to be an incredible channel for the city’s nascent live music scene to strut their stuff and reach a larger audience. Chair of the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio, Councillor Rohan Leppert, affirmed the importance of the event.
“The virus has devastated Melbourne’s music scene – with musicians, venues and promoters affected by cancellations and job losses. It’s more important than ever that we bring people and music back into the city,” Cr Leppert said.
“Live Performance Australia conservatively estimates that more than 200,000 people have lost income and work as a result of the pandemic.
“This year’s event will have a focus on nurturing our grassroots music industry and celebrating Melbourne’s music community,” he continued. “While the event is still several months away, we are planning now so I would encourage everyone to complete an expression of interest.”
Expressions of interest are now open for local artists, venues and promoters to get involved with the event. MMW is throwing the net far and wide inviting everything from performances to collaborations, workshops, talks through to commissioned works and multimedia installations.
Melbourne Music Week will return to Melbourne from Thursday November 18 – Monday November 22. Expression of interest applications are now open via the Melbourne Music Week website until 10pm on Sunday June 28.
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