Australasia News: Call For ‘Cultural Vouchers’; Laneway 2025; AWMA Awards; NZ: Venue Mishaps

AUSTRALIA

Young Aussies Call For $200 Cultural Pass

A new report on live music habits of 1,000 Australians aged 16-25 saw 80% in favor of a A$200 ($135.94) government-funded voucher to spend on cultural and creative interests.
It’s one initiative the live sector has spruiked as an 18th birthday gift to kickstart spending on music, books, theatre, movies and museums. It’s based on a similar scheme in EU countries.

The report, by youth organisation The Push and the Australia Institute, found 64% thought attending a live event was “important.”

But 59% saw cost as a major barrier, with 35% naming it most significant obstacle to attending more shows. A high 81% also supported a national government program for young people to stage music events in their local community.

Laneway Unveils 2025 Dates

After drawing its largest audience in its 19 years with 125,000 across six cities this year to a bill headed by Stormzy, Steve Lacy and Dominic Fike, Laneway Festival unveiled its 2025 dates.

After Auckland’s Western Springs (Feb. 6), it’s Brisbane Showgrounds (Feb. 8), Sydney Showground (Feb. 9), Melbourne’s Flemington Park (Feb. 14), Adelaide’s Bonython Park (Feb. 15) and Perth’s Wellington Square (Feb. 16).

Live Music Honored At AWMA Awards

Members of the live sector were gonged at the fifth 21-category Australian Women in Music awards (AWMA) Oct. 2 in Sydney.

Before 450 guests at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, AWMA presented its live production touring trophy to Los Angeles-based Tana Douglas, recognised as the world’s first female roadie.

Joining UK production company TASCO in its London and Los Angeles, she worked with the Who, the Police, Iggy Pop, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam.

Douglas, who published her memoir “LOUD” in 2020, said resistance still remains for female road and production crews, but “Females are really detail oriented so we make excellent tour operators.”

NEW ZEALAND

Mishaps For Two Venues

Wellington’s hospitality sector rallied around the 1,000-capacity Meow Nui. It missed its August launch, and hasn’t confirmed a new opening date. More recently, it was struck by thieves.

Five bars have donated kegs to the next door Little Beer Quarter (LBQ), from which beer sales are donated to the club.

“We all realise how important it is for Wellington to get a 1,000-capacity club,” LBQ general manager Joe Hirst said.

“It’s a reflection of how close knit out community is, and donating the kegs is significant given how tough things are out there right now.”

The Grey Lynn Library Hall in Auckland, one of the mainstays of the city’s under-age scene, had its late night trading hours slashed to 10 pm, forcing promoters to pull acts, the NZ Herald reported.

The move by Auckland council came after drunkenness, vandalism and noise issues led to resident complaints.

The council warned that any more complaints would lead to live music stopped at the venue.