The Keep Sydney Open team have announced that they will be holding a rally in Kings Cross this Saturday, January 21. Following on from two hugely successful rallies last year, this weekend’s will be conducted in opposition to the Baird Government’s pitiful changes to the lockout laws, namely the insulting thirty minute extension to lockout and last drinks times.
The special musical guests for the event will be Flight Facilities, who have been highly vocal about how Sydney’s nightlife is where they – among countless other artists – first found their feet, their first ever gigs taking place at Hugo’s, which shut down last year because of the lockouts. They have since gone on to perform at the biggest venues and festivals around the world. In a press release, they wrote, “Having met in Kings Cross nearly 9 years ago, the place holds a special place in our hearts. We, personally, realise the importance of nightlife as a breeding ground for ideas and talent. To stand by and watch the continual erosion of a vital stone in the path to our success would be a disservice to Sydney, its music lovers and other potential musicians.”
Keep Sydney Open directer Tyson Koh also writes, “Mike Baird is failing our city and its dynamic people. Instead of considering the smart solutions that the greatest cities in the world use to create fun and safe urban environments, heʼs sticking with the blunt, dumb policy of locking up Sydney so he doesnʼt have to think about it anymore.”
“A thirty-minute extension will not be enough to reverse the damage being done to the cultural areas and small businesses that make Sydney an exciting place to be. Itʼs barely enough time to line up for the bathroom or get a kebab.
“Itʼs sad that the government doesnʼt have the ambition or leadership to try and achieve the best outcome for Sydneysiders. We want smart and innovative policies that will make Sydney a world-leading city for culture, entertainment, and nightlife, and if the government isnʼt interested in that outcome, then weʼll start doing it without them.
“For too long the debate about our city and how we live our lives has been dominated by misinformation and fear-mongering. We call on the lobby groups who support the lockout laws to enter the conversation about smart solutions, instead of clearing people off the streets.”
A press release goes on to detail the specific, evidence-based solutions proposed by KSO:
- Developing best-practice policing strategies;
- Investing in 24/7 public transport;
- Implementing integrated urban planning reform;
- Encouraging diversification of after-dark activities;
- Establishing anti-violence education & intervention campaigns;
- Incentivising well-run venues; and
- Appointing a Night Mayor or office charged with managing Sydneyʼs night-time economy.
Keep an eye on the official Facebook event for information and updates about the rally.
Photos: Keep Sydney Open Rally, 21 February 2016
Read more: Report Suggests Lockouts To Blame for Increase In Violence At Star Casino
Read more: We Talk Lockouts With Queensland’s Right to A Good Night
Sydney banded together yesterday to show solidarity and support of the Keep Sydney Open movement, rallying against the NSW government’s archaic, destructive lockout laws. With a stranglehold on our once-vibrant nightlife, the lockout laws have so clearly affected our city in so many ways beyond restricting the time that bars and clubs are allowed to stay open and serve alcohol. Every facet of the music and nightlife industries have taken a blow, from the limited venues available to upcoming DJs and bands, to the increased inability to tour mid-level artists who can’t sell out bigger venues, to the countless students who once relied on late night bar shifts to earn money while studying, after hours food vendors, and even public transport.
Up to 15,000 people marched from Belmore Park to Hyde Park yesterday afternoon, braving morning showers to cheer, chant and celebrate our city. It was a stunning, inspiring display of love and support for our city and its nightlife. It was incredible to see thousands of people of all ages and all walks of life to band together and take a stand against Mike Baird and his government (and of course Barry O’Farrell before that.)
The fact of the matter is that lockout laws do not exist to simply prevent late night violence, alcohol-fuelled or otherwise. While official reports deem to conclude that violence has reduced since the laws were introduced two years ago, this only rings true specifically in the lockout zone. It’s far from the case everywhere else, and in some areas – such as Newtown – late night violence has even increased. The lockout laws are a money-making scheme, simple as that – and it’s not exactly a hidden agenda.
While we’ve been aware of the lockout law’s problems ever since they came into effect, the knife was twisted even deeper when Premier Mike Baird posted a lengthy, ridiculously close-minded-to-the-point-of-offensive Facebook post defending his stance. This only served to rile us up even more, and the rally was announced shortly after.
Speakers at the rally included Nina Las Vegas, The Preatures’ Isabella Manfredi and Dave Faulkner of the Hoodoo Gurus, as well as rally organiser Tyson Koh. Musical guests included Art Vs Science and Royal Headache.
Now more than ever, it’s so important to do what we can to show those in power that change is needed. Particularly as Queensland have just announced their own lockouts, which are set to be even stricter than our own (read our twenty two cents on that right here,) it’s increasingly clear that something needs to be done. Sydney’s nightlife and culture is on its deathbed – and we really, really don’t want to pull the plug.
It was an incredible day – one which will hopefully help to make a real change for the future of our city.
All photos by Danielle Hansen
Today was the day of the Keep Sydney Open rally, a day where it was up to the Sydney public to show their increasing dissatisfaction with the current lockout laws that continue to decimate Sydney’s nightlife and live music scene. Whilst numbers were expected to be pretty big, the turnout that the city saw today was beyond anyone’s expectations.
It’s expected that over 15,000 people were in attendance for the march, as well as the speeches and live performances afterwards. Not even rain could turn the crowds away, and it wasn’t just your average punters that were in the ranks either. The likes of Flight Facilities, Nina Las Vegas, Flume, Touch Sensitive and more were amongst the 15,000 strong crowd. Meeting at Belmore Park near Sydney’s Central Station, the crowd worked its way through the CBD as a bittersweet tribute to the venues and businesses that have already fallen victim to the lockout laws, and the ones who look set to close up next.
Check out our full photo gallery of the rally here
After the march, punters heard Nina Las Vegas, Izzi Manfredi from The Preatures and more give speeches, whilst the likes of Art Vs Science and Royal Headache, both staples in the Sydney music scene, treated the crowd to stellar performances.
https://www.facebook.com/ninalasvegas/posts/1261750307185205
Art Vs Science even hit the nail on the head with a cover of The Beastie Boys‘ (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right.
.@artvsscience: "You gotta fight for your right to partyyyyyyy." Crowd goes nuts #KeepSydneyOpen pic.twitter.com/08k9flIwb3
— Vanessa Lawrence (@nesslawrence) February 21, 2016
Stay posted for more photos of the day, and pat yourselves on the back if you were a part of the rally today. Let’s just hope that NSW Premier Mike Baird, and by extension QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who has just passed laws of her own, hear the message and begin to take the progressive and necessary steps to rectify these mistakes.
Image: Music Feeds