In response to the growing discontent with the State Government’s lockout laws and the negative affect they are having on Sydney, Keep Sydney Open is holding a rally on Sunday 21st February, meeting at Belmore Park in Central at 12:30pm. The rally will then make its way into the CBD just after 1pm, stopping by soon-to-close venue Bar Century to conduct a mock-funeral for all the closed venues, small businesses and jobs lost since the lockouts .
There will be speeches and performance from many notable personalities, with more to be announced during the week. Confirmed so far are:
Isabella Manfredi from globally successful band The Preatures (Speaker)
Dave Faulkner from iconic Australian band Hoodoo Gurus (Speaker)
Bernard Keane Political Editor of Crikey and author (Speaker)
Tyson Koh from Keep Sydney Open (MC/Speaker)
Art vs Science (Musical performance)
Royal Headache (Musical performance)
The Preatures was born out of the late-night music scene and attribute their success to a once-vibrant after-dark culture in Sydney. They have appeared on the Coachella line-up and reached the top 10 of Triple J’s Hottest 100 with their anthem “Is This How You Feel?”.
Dave Faulkner needs no introduction, but he also adds his weight to the conversation as the Chairperson of the Australian Music Prize (AMP), which is the nation’s most prestigious prize for recognising new albums and new talent.
Bernard Keane is a respected journalist and author, whose book A Short History of Stupid co-authored by Helen Razer explores the malaise experienced in civil society at the hands of condescending legislation and the unsophisticated discourse.
Art vs Science is a much-loved local band that recently made a song in protest of the lockouts.
Royal Headache is a no-nonsense garage rock band that harks back to the days of Australian 80s pub rock. They recently supported the Flaming Lips during their Sydney Festival appearance and wore Keep Sydney Open t-shirts on-stage at the Laneway Festival.
There will be t-shirts on sale at Belmore Park before the rally proceeds on.
In 2010, live music advocacy group SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music) staged a rally in Melbourne in response to lockouts. The turnout was estimated to be 17,000 people and is attributed with being instrumental in the removal of the Melbourne lockout in favour of other measures like supporting the live music scene, increasing police presence in the CBD and implementing 24-hour transport on the weekend.
More speakers will be announced during the week.
We encourage people marchers to move onto Mardi Gras Fair Day in Victoria Park, Astral People’s Summer Dance at National Art School, Future Classic x Museum of Contemporary Art or Picnic Social + Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Harpoon Harry afterwards.
Here at Sydney Social 101 we believe in keeping this city that we love so much safe, but we also believe that we don’t need to kill the night life in order to do so.
We’re adults and we should be treated as such. Let’s not make Sydney a scapegoat.
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