The trouble with Melbourne is that a festival like this would be very difficult to get off the ground because by and large, rocknroll, rockabilly and even country music is looked down upon by those who give out grants. Yet someone standing on a corner pretending to be a tree gets a cheque.
Melbourne and even Ballarat and Bendigo have become red wine drinking, skinny latte sipping, yuppie environments that eats small serves on large plates in places called Ristorantes... Hardly the setting for a rocknroll/roots festival. Jazzheads do well here as to classical ensembles. Melbourne, through its arty image also has become pretentious and has lost its image and Australias rock capital.
People move into the inner suburbs and bitch about the noise from pubs in their street. They want the city lights and serenity of Gembrook. Then you travel to Ballarat or Bendigo and thats starting to look like bloody Malvern with its cafes. You cant even get a decent countermeal at the Grand anymore.
Personally I'd say forget Melbourne. Coolangatta works because its a tourist town and if we were to have one on the Labour Day weekend, places like Echuca would kick arse.
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans - J. W. Lennon
Tamworth is an example of a very successful Australian Festival that grew
from small beginnings. It isn't by the coast and you would not expect it to
attract a lot of attention. However it is well known overseas and attracts
many visitors from other countries. I have spoken to people from Nashville
(home of country music) and they have said Tamworth is their favourite
festival.
Victoria has the Mildura Country Music Festival, which is really popular,
but nothing like Tamworth.
So what do the successful festivals have in common?
* The big ones seem to be awards oriented. People love awards and it is a
talking point, good for publicity etc. Good for sponsors too.
* Tamworth also has the 'longest Linedance comp', which makes good coverage
and is often televised.
* Most importantly (I think) it also has the Country Music School, which
brings in a heap of new talent. Mostly they write their own tunes and they
tell a story with it. Many of them are young and it brings in new
audiences. I am not an expert on the Rock and Roll scene really but my
observation is that it is a bit 'old and stayed". Same old tunes, different
singers. Not a lot to make it newsworthy.
* Wintersun and Tamworth both have a wide range of music styles. Blues,
Country, Rockabilly, Swing and Rock n Roll. As well as rods and classic and
custom cars, Wintersun also caters for the Bikey/biker set and tattoo
enthusiasts. There is no doubt that Wintersun is a lot of fun and growing
each year.
* It's also a fact that the tourism aspect is a draw card for Wintersun.
You can do many things before and after Wintersun to make it a holiday. I
went to Ararat last year and while I had a good time, there was not a lot to
do if you weren't involved in the Rock n Roll and certainly not much
afterwards.
I am just adding to the debate here, I would love a Victorian based large
festival.
What is wrong with a committee? I am sure Tamworth and Wintersun have one.
There are a bunch of great Rock'n'Roll festivals taking place in touristy towns around Victoria. Any one of these could be the Vic version of "Wintersun".
What it needs is for people who love the R'n'R thing but have never been to any of these festivals or to Wintersun to extract the digit and get out there.
This includes me. I still have not made it to Wintersun or any of the Victorian festivals. No special reason. Just have not done it. Inertia I guess.
So here is a challenge - figure what would get Rob the Slob off his arse and into the country and you will have a winner.
have been to a few of these local country events but they are mostly short and just dont have enough to do apart from the event. i agree with essex in that you need more to do. been to wintersun a couple of years ago and loved it. tamworth-not my thing.
Rob the slob... Sheilas mate SHEILAS.. lol
Oh and essex I probably didnt explain my self when I said committees, I meant one made up of local r n roll people
whithout guidance from a higher source, hows that? :unsure:
Bree, one would suggest that this was all your idea, and has been in the back of your mind for a couple of years now, tell us all what you want to achieve?. I also put it to you that you have been to Wintersun more than a couple of years dear...
IFUEVER ........You think Kempy's kidding???...I suggest you ring the Shire of Bulle...or is it Hume & check it out....this event is a regular attraction for Sunbury comunity each year
A Good Dance is worth the time it takes to get there.
"Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!"
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Over the last twenty five years there have been two major rock based music festivals fail in Melbourne.
There was the Melbourne Music Festival which was started by the Cain Government and later the Melbourne International Rock & Blues Festival started by the Bracks Government. Both festivals had very serious money contributed by the Victorian government.
The latter had the expertise of Michael Chugg and Glen Weatley to bring it together with acts such as Ray Charles and Bob Dylan. Both festivals failed.
There are people of influence who have a very strong interest in rock music. Some are members of parliament, philanthropists, senior bureaucrats, etc.
Given this history it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to get government support for a major music festival in Melbourne.
However, if anyone wishes to proceed the concept again with the government they need to put together an extremely well presented information package with a detailed budget and clearly set out benefits.
It is probably worth knowing that a group of interested people with considerable influence have been trying to get an Australia Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame established.
Now ten years latter and with a very detailed business plan funded by the Bracks Government, the City of Melbourne and The Pratt Foundation is has proven the project is marginally viable and of no interest to commercial sponsors or investors
The Melbourne International Rock & Blues Festival I think was never going to work and seemed a bit of a token effort at having a festival in Melbourne by chucking a couple of big name acts in Jeff's shed. They should have promoted it as a concert series in another venue and not called it a festival. I think at that time that event had a fair bit of competition around Melb and Vic for punter's money from memory. It definately seems festivals work a bit better out of the CBD of a city and most successful festivals have grown from small beginnings to the point where they become established and then bigger name acts can be brought in as bums on seats are pretty much guaranteed.. support your local suburban and regional festivals.
I think the point being missed here, is that The City of Melbourne, surrounds, outer Regions and various country towns, is already a vibrant and ongoing Rock and Roll Festival.
Unlike the other States, Melbourne has an abundance of Rock and Roll happening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and at next to nothing to gain entry. We also have far more Rock and Roll festivals and Rod runs than all the other states put together, which is absolutely fantastic.
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