Live music grants to keep Australian music festivals thriving

The Albanese Labor Government is turning up the volume on music festivals, providing $2.5 million in funding under the latest round of the Live Music Australia program.

The funding will support 37 live music festivals to be held at 105 venues across Australia, covering all states and territories and reflecting a wide range of genres, organisations and audiences.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the grants will provide essential support to the live music sector.

“Music festivals are the life blood of the live music sector in this country – that’s why this Government is backing them in.

“We know the live music sector continues to face challenges, which is why we’re determined to support it.

“This program will help artists and musicians do what they do best – sharing Australian music and stories with audiences right across the country.”

As well as providing support to established festivals, these grants will also assist up and coming, grassroots level events – creating opportunities for original Australian live music to reach audiences across Australia. Amongst those to receive funding include:

Red Country Music Festival, which brings live music to Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Desert Harmony Festival, bringing musical acts and audiences from across the vast Australian landscape together in a celebration of music, language and culture in the Barkly region, Northern Territory.
A Festival Called PANAMA, which highlights and celebrates original Australian live music in Tasmania.
GreazeFest, a three-day festival showcasing original Australian rock’n’roll and rockabilly performers at Redland Showgrounds in Queensland.

The next round of funding through the Live Music Australia program, opening in February 2024, will target small to medium live music venues.

A full list of recipients can be found https://www.arts.gov.au/publications/live-music-australia-grant-recipients-round-7-2023