The Tramway is launching a fundraiser gig series featuring Pony Face, Bench Press and more
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27.05.2020

The Tramway is launching a fundraiser gig series featuring Pony Face, Bench Press and more

Words by Kate Streader

The beloved venue needs help to keep its doors open.

Fitzroy North’s Tramway Hotel is launching a series of virtual and physical gigs as a means of crowdfunding the venue’s survival. Titled ‘On The Couch’, the series will host a slate of stellar local acts each Saturday for six weeks across June and early July.

With restrictions set to ease next month, the Tramway will host physically distanced gigs capped at 20 people as part of the series. Due to the limited capacity, the shows will also be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

While the virtual gigs will be free to access, the Tramway asks that viewers pay a ‘voluntary door charge’ to help them pay ongoing bills and weather what’s set to be a prolonged period surviving on a minimal income.

“We can only fit a handful of people in here from June 1, and despite the proposed capacity increases soon, they won’t be applicable to us because of our size,” said the owners in a statement on Facebook.

“The one person per four sq metres thing ….yeah that thing. We get it’s for the best, and are happy to abide by this until it’s feasible and safe not to. But it means we’ll likely have low limited numbers for yonks. Like months.

“So we could sugar coat it and say it’s all fine….but fark. Every venue, pub, bar, gallery, restaurant, cafe etc…is pushing mountains of shit up shit creek like hills. So thanks in advance. We love ya.”

Tramway On The Couch will feature performances from Van Walker, Pony Face (duo), Go Get Mum, Scarlett Maloney, Bench Press and 808s & Greatest Hits.

You can make a direct donation to Tramway Hotel via PayPal. They’ll be live streaming gigs from 5pm every Saturday from June 6 until July 11 via Facebook and YouTube. 

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