Today, Live Nation Australasia is showing our support for the community of Australian bands, artists and crew, by getting involved in #AusmusicTShirtDay.
What is it? Setup as an annual initiative by ABC’s triple j, Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is held once a year during Aus Music Month in November. The initiative aims to encourage triple j listeners and live music fans right across the country and around the world to purchase merch and support their favourite Australian bands and artists by wearing a tee.
This year triple j have setup an extra Ausmusic T-shirt Day on Friday 17th of April because now is the time to wrap our arms around the Australian music industry and let them know we’re here for them during a time when they can’t make a living from playing live.
Not only has the cancellation of gigs, tours and festivals disrupted the income of artists but it has also affected the hard-working people behind the scenes who get the show on the road and onto the stage, providing Australians with the soundtrack to their lives.
We asked a few of the amazing Live Nation crew to share some of their highlights about working with Australian artists and what drives their passion for Australian music.
Wearing INXS for #AusmusicTshirtDay
Name: Kat Rallis
Tell us what you do:
VIP Operations / Tour Management
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
Noiseworks, ACDC, INXS, 5SOS, The Amity Affliction, Amy Shark
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
I don't remember a time when music wasn't the biggest part of my life and feel proud of my roots. It is definitely a gift and a privilege to be able to do something you love for work. My first job was selling merch at the tender age of 18 and I've never looked back. I loved being part of something bigger than myself and still feel the same way. I not only feed off the energy of the music but the energy of being part of a hardworking crew, working as a team and making sure shows go off without a hitch. I'm big on family and I consider the staff I work with day in and day out...my family.
Wearing Northlane for #AusmusicTshirtDay
Name: Ifan Thomas
Tell us what you do:
International Tour and Production Manager, Promoter Rep
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
I’ve worked with Live Nation on Tonight Alive, Kingswood and Northlane, plus others such as Killing Heidi, Gang of Youths and Illy.
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
As a "blow in” from Wales almost 20 years ago, I found the Australian music scene always seemed to be on a perceived international “back foot” the drive and spirit because of that is something to behold. It’s a unique scene and full of inventiveness and quirky uniqueness. Long may it live.
Wearing Paul Kelly for #AusmusicTshirtDay 2020
Name: Steve Varga
Tell us what you do:
Tour Manager, Promoter Rep, Backline Tech
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
With Live Nation I’ve toured with Boy & Bear and Hermitude. Others include Kate Miller Heidke, Something For Kate, Eskimo Joe and The Avalanches, I also regularly tour and work closely with Paul Kelly – hence my Aussie t-shirt choice!
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
I love the down to earth nature of most of the Australian artists. I love how real and genuine most of the people in the Australian music industry are, they all get the job done without too much drama and fuss, it’s a different mindset to international acts. I love doing regional touring and getting to go to whacky out of the way places in Australia that you’d never really get to go to with an international act. Oh, and Paul Kelly, he’s the best boss ever.
Wearing The Living End for #AusmusicTshirtDay 2020
Name: Simon Banko
Tell us what you do: Local Rep/Tour Manager/Production Manager/Front Of House Sound
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
Current Aussie Acts - ILLY(TM/FOH) The Living End(TM/PM) & Karnivool (TM). Previous Aussie Acts. Grinspoon, Bodyjar, Faker, Kiss Chasy, Birds Of Tokyo, Gyroscope, Peabody, The Tucker B’s, Youth Group, The City Lights, Webster, Even, Tumbleweed, Snout, Snowman, The Treetops… I’ve worked with Live Nation on delivering Jet, Tonight Alive and Tora.
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
Bands bands bands. Growing up in Karratha, the remote Northwest of WA music was my first genuine passion and although I wasn’t getting the exposure city kids on the east coast were blessed with it we had the ABC, in fact, that was the only TV we had so it was Oz music and shows like Beatbox who literally had me thinking I was part of the crowd for The Oils on Goat Island. Rock Arena, out of Perth no less introducing me to Oz acts the local radio station, 6KY, was never going to be playing like The Go Betweens but most importantly acts like Spy vs Spy, Mental As Anything, Jimmy Barnes, and Gangajang who would actually tour the region and inspire my love for “Pub Rock”. AC/DC, Chisel, The Oils, The Angels, Rose Tattoo et el followed by The Screaming Jets and The Baby Animals. These acts lit the fire under my arse for the Australian industry and although circumstance meant I was late starting in the business I have since been blessed to work in the studio with and or tour this incredible country with some of Australia’s finest, crossing paths with so many brilliant people from artists, to the managers and the crews, to the promoters and venue operators and of course the punters who can turn the longest of shittiest days into an amazing one with the joy and energy they bring to the show. I love our industry and having the world end as we know it only reinforces how bloody much this is the case. When the corona zombies and isolation comes to an end long may it live!
Wearing You Am I for #AusmusicTshirtDay 2020
Name:
Katy Richards
Tell us what you do:
Director of Ground Control Event Services - booking runners, VIP and event staff across the country
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
Tim Minchin, Jet, Amy Shark
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
I grew up loving Australian music because it was accessible. I heard it on the radio, I saw Australian bands on TV and in Melbourne, there’s always been a tonne of venues featuring local acts. I remember driving to Sydney to go to the first Big Day Out, just to see the Aussie bands. The common thread to my friendships since I was a kid, is the love of local music and it was from working with Aussie bands that allowed me to enter the music industry in the first place.
Wearing 5 Seconds of Summer for #AusmusicTshirtDay 2020
Name: Robyn Jelleff
Tell us what you do:
Tour & Production Manager/Promoter Rep
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
Later this year I’ll be working with Live Nation on delivering 5 Seconds of Summer’s biggest domestic headline tour to date. I have also worked with Live Nation on The Amity Affliction in 2019 and throughout my career I’ve toured with Missy Higgins, RockWiz Live!, Jessica Mauboy, The Presets, Justice Crew, Big Pig, Crowded House, Barry Gibb (he considers himself an Aussie) and Angie McMahon.
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
Growing up in the era of Countdown I was exposed to some amazing Australian bands who I still love listening to today - Divinyls, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Hunters and Collectors, Crowded House to name a few. I began working in the Australian music industry in the 80’s and still get excited to hear the up and coming Australian musicians who often support the international artists I’m touring with. There seems to be a never-ending source of great talent in our local music industry.
Wearing Paul Kelly for #AusmusicTshirtDay
Name: Stephen Zagami
Tell us what you do:
I began as an audio engineer and then developed onward to production management, working as a tour manager and promoter representative. I’ve had stints in owning and managing audio systems, been an assistant artist manager, tour managed international acts and worked in many other areas of production and logistics.
Who are some of the Australian artists you’ve toured with?
For Live Nation, I’ve worked with Amy Shark, Matt Corby and Hermitude and throughout my career I’ve worked with everyone from The Radiators, Christine Anu, Sunnyboys, Paul Kelly and The Living End… to name a few.
Why are you passionate about Australian music?
I love the great pleasure music brings people – the creative musicians and artists and the music itself. I’ve met fans of artists that have brought me to tears. I take great pleasure in the coordination and management of production planning, installation, seeing a show go up, come down and be packed away for onward journey. Working amongst a crew of touring comrades who each make the journey and travel so enjoyable and fun. The people and teams that get involved in making the music go around is always an inspiration.
