Friday 23 July 2010

The end of opportunity !

It got just that much harder to start a new band in Wollongong with the closure of the Oxford Tavern.

This was one of the few remaining places prepared to host live gigs - the life blood of new bands as they try to attract a following - that will hopefully see them established on a selling label on their way to fame and fortune.

The demise of the Oxford Tavern is a result of the owner's bankruptcy and a decision by the administrator to close it down. Like many other live gig venues the question of noise was also threatening. Nearby new apartment blocks inevitably start to agitate for noise suppression - despite the fact that the source was there before the new apartments were built and tenanted.

This is a new and common threat to any live entertainment venue - as evidenced by the experience of Luna park in Sydney. Despite Luna park being a fun place for decades, developers built high cost apartments nearby - and then agitated to close down the fun park - because of noise !

They succeeded in having the " Big Dipper " banned and Luna park is now a mere shadow of it's former glory, and will probably end up closed and converted into offices - or perhaps more high cost apartments.

To aspiring young men and women with the talent to create a popular band the way ahead is littered with obstacles placed by both government and council - and those nearby residents who consider your music " noise ".

It seems we may never gain new artists like " The little river band " or " The Seekers " in the future because the time honoured way of impressing ever growing audiences is closing fast.

It seems that " opportunity " is fading for Australian talent.

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