THE Coffs Harbour City Council is planning a coordinated, collaborative approach to stimulating the live music scene.

A joint initiative with the Live Music Office, the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS), who manage music rights, ‘Live and Local’ aims to increase live music opportunities and explore how to support local music sector development in Coffs Harbour in a way that is innovative, flexible and sustainable.

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The project aims to stimulate employment opportunities for musicians, particularly those who are young, diverse and emerging, while supporting economic activities and developing cultural spaces for audiences.

Nikki Greenwood, Council’s Group Leader, Community and Cultural Services, said this will be a collective effort involving performers, venues, music teachers, event organisers, suppliers and venues that have never hosted live music before.

Recent events such as the “Bail Outs” and musicians playing in the city square and cafes have been about connecting musicians and non-traditional venues.

The first stages of the project involve setting up a Coffs Live and Local Working Group and conducting a census of local musicians and venues to get a snapshot of the Coffs Coast live music scene.

Ms Greenwood said, “We need to hear from the industry about what is working and what’s not and what they would ideally like to see.”

Council hopes that outcomes such as more paid performance opportunities for local musicians in more performance spaces will eventuate from the project by connecting musicians and businesses to the broader music industry so that both feel more confident to regularly book gigs.

The development of the database of musicians and businesses should lead to a network of local businesses programming live music more regularly.

Ms Greenwood said, “We are already in the process of establishing a Coffs Live and Local Working Group to help steer all the activities including a Live Music Census, which will be open for input until September the 10th 2021.

“The call-out to be part of the Working Group, which invites representatives from all areas of the live music scene, closes on August the 27th, 2021.

“We want to hear what people involved in the live music scene want.

“We want to know how we can help connect venues, audiences and performers,” she said.

Anyone who wants to get involved and has ideas about shaping the Coffs live music scene can find more information at https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/coffsliveandlocal.

By Andrew VIVIAN