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Crossroads on ACDC Lane: building frenzy raises fears for Melbourne music Crossroads on ACDC Lane: building frenzy raises fears for Melbourne music
(3 months later)
The story of the renaissance of Melbourne, Australia's Capital of Cool, has live music at its heart: there are 460 live music venues, a strong community radio and street press scene to promote them, and a public that enthusiastically supports them. The age range at many gigs spans generations.The story of the renaissance of Melbourne, Australia's Capital of Cool, has live music at its heart: there are 460 live music venues, a strong community radio and street press scene to promote them, and a public that enthusiastically supports them. The age range at many gigs spans generations.
But the Melbourne live scene currently finds itself at a tricky juncture. The CBD is experiencing a building frenzy, with a projected 30,000-40,000 new residents moving into the inner city in the next five years. And gentrification can be like loving someone so much that you hug them to death.But the Melbourne live scene currently finds itself at a tricky juncture. The CBD is experiencing a building frenzy, with a projected 30,000-40,000 new residents moving into the inner city in the next five years. And gentrification can be like loving someone so much that you hug them to death.
On ACDC Lane, Cherry Bar is preparing to be squeezed. Catching a gig at the bar – which made headlines last year when it turned away Lady Gaga to honour a booking with Mildura blues rock act Jackson Firebird – is as essential a Melbourne experience as heading to the MCG for footy and a pie. But its owners worry what the future might bring.On ACDC Lane, Cherry Bar is preparing to be squeezed. Catching a gig at the bar – which made headlines last year when it turned away Lady Gaga to honour a booking with Mildura blues rock act Jackson Firebird – is as essential a Melbourne experience as heading to the MCG for footy and a pie. But its owners worry what the future might bring.
"Venues are facing more threat than they have ever seen – not from lack of attendance or deficiencies in the live scene – but from new commercial and residential development and noise issues," argues James Young, co-owner of the bar."Venues are facing more threat than they have ever seen – not from lack of attendance or deficiencies in the live scene – but from new commercial and residential development and noise issues," argues James Young, co-owner of the bar.
A 12-storey tower of apartments is currently being constructed close to the bar, with banners on the scaffolding inviting would-be owners to be part of the lane lifestyle. In fact, the introduction of residential property to the lane could put that lifestyle in danger.A 12-storey tower of apartments is currently being constructed close to the bar, with banners on the scaffolding inviting would-be owners to be part of the lane lifestyle. In fact, the introduction of residential property to the lane could put that lifestyle in danger.
As the law currently stands, a noise complaint from a single resident can have an enormous impact on a venue, requiring the noisemaker to take expensive soundproof measures, or reduce the hours in which live music is played.As the law currently stands, a noise complaint from a single resident can have an enormous impact on a venue, requiring the noisemaker to take expensive soundproof measures, or reduce the hours in which live music is played.
Soundproofing for Cherry Bar has been costed at between $80,000 and $100,000 – a year's profit for this privately owned small business. That threat has prompted Young to begin campaigning for the introduction of what he calls "a common-sense approach" to the question of who bears the burden of costs in relation to soundproofing.Soundproofing for Cherry Bar has been costed at between $80,000 and $100,000 – a year's profit for this privately owned small business. That threat has prompted Young to begin campaigning for the introduction of what he calls "a common-sense approach" to the question of who bears the burden of costs in relation to soundproofing.
"The person who is the agent of change should be responsible for the consequences of that change.," he says. "So, if I open a live music venue, then I soundproof it. But if you move in and my live music venue is already there, then you bear the onus of soundproofing your building.""The person who is the agent of change should be responsible for the consequences of that change.," he says. "So, if I open a live music venue, then I soundproof it. But if you move in and my live music venue is already there, then you bear the onus of soundproofing your building."
Young is also pushing for authorities to recognise and protect "cultural clusters" which bring benefits to the city. "I'm busting my balls to create, protect and develop Melbourne's famous laneway culture while the authorities who take the credit for this are instead seemingly focused on compliance and increasing the number of rate payers regardless of the cultural consequences," he claims.Young is also pushing for authorities to recognise and protect "cultural clusters" which bring benefits to the city. "I'm busting my balls to create, protect and develop Melbourne's famous laneway culture while the authorities who take the credit for this are instead seemingly focused on compliance and increasing the number of rate payers regardless of the cultural consequences," he claims.
A City of Melbourne spokesperson, however, defended its record. "When people think about Melbourne, music and laneways are top of mind," they said. "Council is committed to sustaining and enhancing these great elements of our city."A City of Melbourne spokesperson, however, defended its record. "When people think about Melbourne, music and laneways are top of mind," they said. "Council is committed to sustaining and enhancing these great elements of our city."
For Young that means preserving the vibe of the city's bars and lanes. "People love standing in ACDC Lane and hearing the music pouring out on to the street. You go to Madrid and Barcelona and live music feeds into the street and the community and feeds life into the community."For Young that means preserving the vibe of the city's bars and lanes. "People love standing in ACDC Lane and hearing the music pouring out on to the street. You go to Madrid and Barcelona and live music feeds into the street and the community and feeds life into the community."
And then there's the larger argument about the extent to which the music industry increasingly relies on gigs for its cash, thanks to declining CD sales.And then there's the larger argument about the extent to which the music industry increasingly relies on gigs for its cash, thanks to declining CD sales.
Music Victoria, the independent body that supports contemporary music, is part of a government roundtable seeking to bring the "agent of change" proposal into legislation with regard to soundproofing. Negotiation is tricky as there are three major pieces of legislation affected – and three ministries to consult.Music Victoria, the independent body that supports contemporary music, is part of a government roundtable seeking to bring the "agent of change" proposal into legislation with regard to soundproofing. Negotiation is tricky as there are three major pieces of legislation affected – and three ministries to consult.
Patrick Donovan, chief executive of Music Victoria, is representing the music industry on a government roundtable. "It's not about venues versus developers," he argues. Rather, it's about providing certainty and reasonable remedies for all parties. "It's one of the biggest issues not just for the music industry but the tension between inner city resident and inner city culture and its only getting worse."Patrick Donovan, chief executive of Music Victoria, is representing the music industry on a government roundtable. "It's not about venues versus developers," he argues. Rather, it's about providing certainty and reasonable remedies for all parties. "It's one of the biggest issues not just for the music industry but the tension between inner city resident and inner city culture and its only getting worse."
Certainly that tension is building. When Tripod appeared recently on the Adam Hills show they sang about this latest wave of gentrification: ''We'll buy a little house together, in the inner city, have a baby, and we'll close the local pubs down ... jogging with your iPod Nano, your favourite playlist of Aussie rock bands, and we'll close the local pubs down.''Certainly that tension is building. When Tripod appeared recently on the Adam Hills show they sang about this latest wave of gentrification: ''We'll buy a little house together, in the inner city, have a baby, and we'll close the local pubs down ... jogging with your iPod Nano, your favourite playlist of Aussie rock bands, and we'll close the local pubs down.''
Pure Pop records, in St Kilda, was recently saved from closure by a crowdfunding campaign which encourage punters to "buy a brick", raising more than $55,000 to soundproof the venue. Run by Dave Stephens, the son of former AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, Pure Pop faced a barrage of complaints, including more than 100 over four years from one local resident, the Age reported.Pure Pop records, in St Kilda, was recently saved from closure by a crowdfunding campaign which encourage punters to "buy a brick", raising more than $55,000 to soundproof the venue. Run by Dave Stephens, the son of former AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, Pure Pop faced a barrage of complaints, including more than 100 over four years from one local resident, the Age reported.
A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne, however, said they received "very few" noise complaints relating to live music venues. "When assessing a planning application for a development located near a live music venue, the presence of that venue is acknowledged and conditions are applied to the new development to minimise any impact upon the tenants of that building," he said.A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne, however, said they received "very few" noise complaints relating to live music venues. "When assessing a planning application for a development located near a live music venue, the presence of that venue is acknowledged and conditions are applied to the new development to minimise any impact upon the tenants of that building," he said.
But there is a desire to increase certainty around the issue at a federal level: the government has recently appointed Dr Ianto Ware to head the National Live Music Office. "Most laws are state based and can be quite confusing. Live venues are operating in a completely disjointed, non-functional regulatory system. There is a real hostility towards localised culture," he says.But there is a desire to increase certainty around the issue at a federal level: the government has recently appointed Dr Ianto Ware to head the National Live Music Office. "Most laws are state based and can be quite confusing. Live venues are operating in a completely disjointed, non-functional regulatory system. There is a real hostility towards localised culture," he says.
Ware once played bass and guitar in an Adelaide band. "I watched all the small venues in Adelaide disappear and I thought, 'There is something wrong with this,' so I started my own small venue. Music culture is impossible to kill but when you close down the venues you drive it underground. We ended up playing a lot of house parties but because it was underground there was no way to make money from it."Ware once played bass and guitar in an Adelaide band. "I watched all the small venues in Adelaide disappear and I thought, 'There is something wrong with this,' so I started my own small venue. Music culture is impossible to kill but when you close down the venues you drive it underground. We ended up playing a lot of house parties but because it was underground there was no way to make money from it."
It's not just live music venues who become entangled in regulations. "I've seen people running CWA [Country Women's Association] halls who have come across the same [regulatory] problems facing live music venues," says Ware.It's not just live music venues who become entangled in regulations. "I've seen people running CWA [Country Women's Association] halls who have come across the same [regulatory] problems facing live music venues," says Ware.
Young finds himself questioning the massive growth of Melbourne's CBD population. He gives the example of Berlin, where a thriving nightclub scene in factory suburbs made the area cool, before residential development – and accompanying noise complaints – saw venues begin to shut. "They realised its value after they killed it," he says, "you can't go back."Young finds himself questioning the massive growth of Melbourne's CBD population. He gives the example of Berlin, where a thriving nightclub scene in factory suburbs made the area cool, before residential development – and accompanying noise complaints – saw venues begin to shut. "They realised its value after they killed it," he says, "you can't go back."
Not that we should worry about the death of Cherry Bar. Young is a firebrand. "There will be people in [the new apartments] in 12 to 14 months," he says. "On a positive note – over my dead body will Cherry be closed as a live music venue. Over my dead body. Necessary changes may dilute the pure beauty of it – but we will not die. We will survive."Not that we should worry about the death of Cherry Bar. Young is a firebrand. "There will be people in [the new apartments] in 12 to 14 months," he says. "On a positive note – over my dead body will Cherry be closed as a live music venue. Over my dead body. Necessary changes may dilute the pure beauty of it – but we will not die. We will survive."
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