The Victorian government hasn’t gained any fans amongst musicians or music lovers of late. When it named The Tote as a “high risk venue” and closed it down last month (despite no history of violence), it was the last straw. 
Concerned parties are taking to the streets in a protest organised by SLAM (Save Live Music Australia). They’ll march from the State Library on Swanston Street at 4 pm on February 23, recreating the path travelled by AC/DC in their Long Way to the Top video. Not so coincidentally, the day of the march coincides with the 34th anniversary of that video shoot.
“This is going to happen whether they like it or not,” protest organiser and former Blue Ruin singer Quincey McLean told The Age.
“It’s got too much momentum, it’s too big to stop now. It will be like Moomba with a message. Whenever a natural disaster happens, musicians are the first to put their hand up and offer support. Now it’s time for the public, who get music free online and hear it for free on the radio wherever they go, to give support back to the music they love so much.”
The march will be lead by a band, rumored to be the RockWiz Orchestra, playing the Acca Dacca classic on the back of a flatbed truck.
Melburnians, if you care about the state of your local live music scene I suggest getting down there on Feb 23 and showing your support!
Image source: The Euskadi 11 @ Flickr
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