Orange will have its own Don't Kill Live Music rally to provide a voice for people who cannot get to a major rally in Sydney on Thursday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Country Labor candidate for Orange Luke Sanger said local musicians would be performing in Robertson Park from 6pm-9pm on Thursday to highlight the plight of live music festivals which he said were under threat from state government law changes.
"I'm speaking to Lander's Music and Jam Orange to let them know the current Berejilklian government is enforcing these extra fees, on top of what they already charging now, to hold live music events," he said.
"They are putting the cost of extra police on event organisers.
"There is a local event that will be threatened, Vanfest in Forbes."
The Tamworth Country Music Festival might become the Townsville Music Festival. It will just move to Queensland.
- Luke Sanger, Country Labor candidate
Mr Sanger said other NSW festivals were at risk of being moved interstate.
"A lot of people from Orange will travel to Tamworth for the country music festival. If the current government keeps going with this the Tamworth Country Music Festival might become the Townsville Music Festival. It will just move to Queensland," he said.
"We do travel for music festivals, live music will make people travel. Look at Elton John, people are coming from Perth to Bathurst."
Mr Sanger said he was also concerned about live music venue operators and the amount of red tape they had to go through to run gigs, including the regular 4 On The 4loor event at the Victoria Hotel.
Mr Sanger said promoters needed to get approval under several pieces of legislation to run live music events.
"We [Labor] are trying to streamline this so that it's only one licence they have to go for," he said.
Mr Sanger said the Venues Act had not changed since the 1970s.
"Is the act eventually going to kill things like 4 On The 4loor because it is outdated," he said.
Orange musician Haylee Gallagher said she was concerned about a lack of venues in Orange.
"I do find it hard to find new places to do a gig," she said.
"I am planning to get my first album out later this year but I am worried about where I will be able to play it live," she said.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …