The struggling Collingwood live music venue has launched a GoFundMe.
As Melbourne weathers its sixth lockdown, which was extended by another two weeks yesterday, live music venues are struggling to make ends meet.
Among them, Collingwood’s beloved home of metal, punk, psych, doom and rock’n’roll, Bendigo Hotel, has called out for support to ensure the venue is in a position to reopen once restrictions lift.
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The community has raised over $35,000 for the venue since it launched a GoFundMe on Friday August 13, with a goal of raising $150,000 to go towards ongoing costs such as rates, rent, insurance and utilities.
Owner Guy Palermo wrote an impassioned statement on the venue’s GoFundMe page, asking punters to give whatever they can to help The Bendi stay afloat.
“We are proud of what the Bendigo Hotel has achieved over the past 11 years. We want to keep live music alive in Melbourne and support up and coming and established bands, as well as look after the legends that frequent our venue,” it reads.
“We aren’t ready to give up and we don’t want to see the building get gutted and become an apartment block, like so many other cherished music venues across Melbourne. We want to get through this pandemic and help get the music industry back to the thriving pre-COVID times.”
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Donate to Bendigo Hotel’s GoFundMe here.
