Don't Kill Live Music: Musos and Promoters Will Rally In Hyde Park Today To Protest Of Tough New Regs

New South Wales’s live music culture is under threat according to musos and promoters. 

Tonight the industry’s most influential people will rally in Sydney’s Hyde Park  asking the government to delay tough new regulations. While the rules are aimed at reducing drug deaths at music festivals – those behind the scenes in the state's music industry say they could kill live music in NSW.

Alongside MCs Rhys Muldoon and Yumi Stynes, Julien Hamilton of the Presets, Murray Cook of The Wiggles and Dave Faulkner of Hoodoo Gurus are expected to speak.

Ocean Alley, The Rubens, Dan Sultan and Polish Club are among the artists who will make an appearance.

But it's not just big names who are worried about the legislation, Festival Promoter Ben Tillman from Wollongong festival Yours And Owls says smaller events will bear the brunt of the regulations the most. 

"The bigger festivals will be able to wear that - the biggest worry is the smaller community events or regional events that are volunteer run"

"Their proposed changes haven’t been thought through properly, we’re all for promoting safety and harm minimisation. We just want to make sure it’s being done in a considered and well researched way, as opposed to something that does a feel a little like a knee jerk reaction."

Last week organiser’s released an open letter to “music and culture lovers of Australia” explaining the rally:

 “The NSW State Government is vilifying live music with knee-jerk regulation. Instead of consulting with festival experts, the NSW Government imposed punitive regulation that specifically targets music festivals, and music fans. Festivals are being used as a scapegoat for years of failed drug and alcohol policy,” the letter reads.

“We want our music culture to be safe and inclusive. Onerous and ill-considered regulation will not save lives. And the State Government is decimating our music culture in the process.”

The changes are slated to come into power in March but the industry spokespeople say the regulations are not complete and need more consultation.

You can sign a petition protesting the changes here.

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