Significant impacts are now being experienced from the recent bushfires across the music and hospitality sectors on the South Coast of NSW and in other areas across the country including fire affected regions of Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria  and Western Australia. With many of these regions now declared safe and tourists encouraged to return, the Live Music Office has been on deck in recent weeks, listening to artists, industry, and venues on the ground through this time.

Issues being experienced by the music and hospitality sector in these regions include:

• Artists: Widespread loss of employment across peak season
• Venues: Significant loss of business and visitation
• Festivals: Cancellations of events ( Falls Festival, VIC, Cobargo Folk Festival, NSW)
• Music Industry: Agents and industry booking events across the region losing work / commissions / still processing admin from cancelled gigs and managing drop in future performances
• Future bookings are now in abeyance as visitation drops and residents manage impacts
• Whilst some artists may have income protection on public liability and instrument insurance, this isn’t coming through on feedback
• A number of South Coast artists have lost property and musical equipment
• Many artists impacted are offering their services for fundraising events despite lost income in peak season
• Agricultural Shows cancelled include Berry, Cobargo, Candelo, Albion Park, Kiama and Bowral
• Local Government venues also lost in the Bega Shire

The following map shows impacted venues on the NSW South Coast alone since New Years Eve, with more details on affected venues, support services, and human stories below. (Whilst this current map is of the NSW South Coast only,  other affected states are also experiencing significant impacts, and we will continue to update this page).

Support

• Support Act Wellbeing Helpline – 1800 959 500
• Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
• Lifeline – 13 11 14

If you or your family and community have been affected by the fires, and are experiencing mental, physical, aged care or other health issues,  visit the Australian Government Bushfire Information and Support website

Help for Australian bushfire affected businesses – This page provides information and support for Australian businesses who have been affected by the recent bushfires.

Music Industry

APRA AMCOS is providing support for members and licensees – see link Members can talk to them about how they might be able to offer support. Theres a dedicated phone line in case members need assistance. Please call on 02 9935 7879 between 7.00am and 7.00pm AEDT.

Guide to Benefit Concerts

South East NSW Support

Artists in SE NSW are also being encouraged to provide impacts on their creative practice and business,

South East Arts NSW 2020 Bushfires Impact Survey – We are keen to find out from the creative communities of Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and Snowy Monaro, what impact the bushfires have had on your creative practice or business.

Victoria

Creative Victoria have a dedicated support page on their website. https://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2020/victorian-bushfires

There’s also a new fund available for festival and events in regional areas in Victoria.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/bushfire-recovery-boost-for-victorias-regional-events/

Venues

The Live Music Office is staying connected to artists, industry, and venues on the ground, as well as hospitality and music industry associations across the country through this time, and has been providing regular briefings over the last fortnight.

Many venues have used social media to keep their community connected as bushfires impacted regions.

The following quotes tell some of these stories.

Air Raid Tavern Moruya, 31 December 2019 at 11:17: The Air Raid will not open this evening 31 Dec due to bush fires.

Eden Fishermens Recreation Club, 2 January at 10:57 : Members and Guests are advised that due to the ongoing situation in the area and the forecast for the coming days the decision has been made to cancel the raffles and entertainment scheduled for both the venues for Friday and Saturday nights. We apologise for any inconvenience cause, please stay safe and we will see you again in the near future.

Club Narooma, 31 December 2019 at 13:53: No NYE celebrations tonight at the Club due to the fires. Please keep safe everyone.

Dromedary Hotel Tilba, 31 December 2019 at 07:41: With Tilba surrounded by several large and fast-growing fires, we have closed the pub and are focused on making sure our staff, family and friends are out of danger. We will post updates when we have them. #staysafeeveryone ❤️

Tura Beach Country Club, 31 December 2019 at 14:18: We have cancelled the New Year Fireworks tomorrow evening due to the current ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions and in the best interest of the wider community. Band of Gold entertainment is still on though so come on down to the Tura Beach Country Club for some cracking live NYE entertainment!

Currarong Bowling & Recreation Club, 31 December 2019 at 08:44:  Please share this to get the word out.. unfortunately the Melbourne band Catfish Voodoo can’t make it on Saturday 4th January due to fires between Melbourne and Nowra. Hopefully we will get them during 2020.

Great Southern Hotel Berry, 31 December 2019 at 16:57: With the fires impacting so many of our staff we have made the decision to close the hotel tonight and tomorrow. Our thoughts are with our staff, patrons and the greater Shoalhaven. Stay safe.

Club Bega, 3 January at 11:31: Due to the fires and uncertain conditions we have decided it would be in the best interest of our members to postpone tonight’s badge draw. We have tentatively moved the date to next Friday 10th January, however will keep you updated if this changes. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. As a big thank you to our firies, the Club will be donating $1000 to Bega’s NSW Rural Fire Service and we will be continuing to provide complimentary meals for all crew members involved in battling the fires. Please call 6492-1055 to make a booking.

Moruya Golf Club, 3 January at 11:01: Due to the bush fire crisis our cub will be closed from 2.00pm today (Friday) until Sunday or Monday. We will keep the community posted through social media during this time. This Saturday the club will be available for evacuation overflow. Keep safe everyone! Update: The Moruya races have been called off. The Calcutta and Golf day have been called off.

Bottlerocket Bar Nowra, 4 January at 12:40: Due to the uncertainty of today – Saturday 4th Jan, We will be closed. Please stay safe and a massive thank you to all the people out there fighting these fires – you are all heroes.

Postmans Tavern Nowra, 4 January at 16:38: We opened our doors today to accommodate air conditioning, water & food for anyone that needed it, unfortunately due to the safety of our workers & patrons we have now closed, stay safe xx

The Ex Servos Nowra, 4 January at 16:08: *Update*To all members and visitors.As of 4pm we have made the decision to close the Exservos in Nowra. As you could imagine our resources are stretched with staff understandably anxious as the Currowan fire begins to impact on other suburbs North of the river. We will be consolidating staff resources to Worrigee Sports and continue to provide Club facilities and refuge as previously posted. We have a large amount of emergency services based out of our accommodation and will continue to provide meals from Pepper Trees Bistro. Today our offer of refuge had not been utilised in town which is understandable. We will keep you updated as the evening progresses. Regards Management

Harvest Bar Milton, 3 January at 13:37: C L O S E D // We will be closed until further notice due to the current bushfires surrounding our beautiful home & the forecast conditions over the next few days. Please stay safe & be prepared ❤️

The Guild. Italian Restaurant Cafe Bar Milton, 2 January at 14:06: Dear customers, Milton has no running water. Unfortunately we must remain closed tonight. We “should” be able to open tomorrow. Please stay safe and take care of one another.

Angels Bayside Cafe/Restaurant Huskisson, 31 December 2019 at 13:57: It is my decision to cancel our NYE celebration tonight at cafe, with many staff only just making it home to families, and others still stuck here with family and friends for the moment. We all wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year. We will be open New Years Day from 7am

Adelaide Hotel Moruya, 10 January at 11:57: Hey everyone I know things have been absolutely devastating and there have been a lot of people that have lost a lot in these fires. We all missed out on a New Year’s Eve so The Adelaide hotel and Dj Jester are getting together to hold a NYE 2.0 on the 31st of January where we can try and bring a bit of light and a good time on to 2020. We hope to see you all there and we can have a bit better of time then we all have had as of late!!!

Sussex Inlet RSL Club, 9 January at 12:50: Anyone after information in relation to disaster assistance and Centrelink benefits, Human Services have set up a pop up station in the Club’s carpark and will be assisting any questions and guidance you may require this afternoon. Please do not hesitate to pop down, they are here to provide support.

Hotel Commercial Bega, 31 December 2019 at 14:09: Hi all, We have decided to close the pub at 6pm tonight. We would prefer that our staff are safe at home with families whilst we deal with the current fire emergency.Apologies for any inconvenience this causes. Stay safe and look out for each other. The Bega Valley Shire is an amazing community and we will get through this. Regards Mitch and Alexis.

Corrigans Cove Resort – Batemans Bay, 8 January at 14:49: We regret to advise due to the current bush fires we will not be opening for lunch or continuing our entertainment throughout January. Our restaurant will still be OPEN 7 days a week for breakfast and dinner as usual. Our thoughts are with our community at this difficult time, and our doors are always open for anyone who needs a hand. Thank you.

Regions

Currently there are 40 councils across Australia in receipt of Category C assistance for the most severely bushfire impacted councils, including 33 in New South Wales, five in Queensland and two in South Australia, with Local Government Areas of East Gippsland and Towong in Victoria also being included.

Councils To Receive Assistance

NSW

• Armidale
• Ballina
• Bega Valley
• Bellingen
• Blue Mountains
• Byron
• Central Coast
• Cessnock
• Clarence Valley
• Coffs Harbour
• Eurobodalla
• Glenn Innes Severn
• Hawkesbury
• Inverell
• Kempsey
• Kyogle
• Lismore
• Lithgow
• Mid-Coast
• Mid-Western
• Nambucca
• Port Macquarie-Hastings
• Queanbeyan-Palerang
• Richmond Valley
• Shoalhaven
• Singleton
• Snowy Monaro
• Snowy Valleys
• Tenterfield
• Tweed
• Walcha
• Wingecarribee
• Wollondilly

QLD

• Livingstone
• Noosa
• Scenic Rim
• Southern Downs
• Sunshine Coast

SA

• Adelaide Hills
• Kangaroo Island

VIC

• East Gippsland
• Towong