The NelliJam Festival has attracted Live Music Australia funding. Photo: NelliJam.
The organisers of two South Coast music festivals are doing a happy dance after gaining a financial boost from the Federal Government.
Nelligen’s NelliJam Music Festival and the Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival will share in almost $120,000 to keep the tunes pumping for locals and visitors alike.
Nellijam organiser Danny Freeman said the $23,903 grant was used to purchase festival infrastructure including professional marquees and a misting machine to keep patrons cool, as well as signage ahead of last Saturday’s event held at the Steampacket Hotel.
“We wanted to get stuff that we could continue to use to grow the event,” he said.
“We were absolutely elated to get the funding through. We have applied for grants before and not been successful. As the event is 13 years old now, it was nice timing for us to finally feel recognised.”
Danny said the organisers had been “pretty overwhelmed with feedback” following last weekend’s festival.
“The event was absolutely unbelievable and people are saying everything we want to hear … the event gets better every year, the venue is great, the food is great and the new management at the pub is fantastic,” he said.
NelliJam was sold out, with around 500 music lovers attending the festival held in the pub’s recently renovated beer garden.
“It was a huge success. It absolutely blew us away. Most of the ticket holders were from out of town – areas like Mittagong, Nowra, Merimbula and Bega, but the vast majority were local,” Danny explained.
“A lot of people came from Canberra and Queanbeyan and made a weekend out of it, so the event definitely attracted people to the area.”
The popular Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, which is planned for three days in March 2024 received $96,000. The event will stage live music events at multiple venues in Kiama, Gerringong and Minnamurra.
This 35-year-young event is and always has been volunteer run and relies on support in the form of funding, sponsorship, generosity, creativity and community.
Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips welcomed the funding and said the South Coast region had been through so much over the past few years, with live music “certainly taking a huge hit – locally and across Australia”.
“Helping this important industry get back on its feet, while also supporting local artists and events, and drawing visitors back to our region, has never been more important,” she said.
The Live Music Australia program is a competitive grants opportunity for live music venues, festivals and organisations that support quality original Australian live music.
“The South Coast has so much to offer, and our ever-growing live music scene is just one way to soak up a bit of fun and frivolity in the country – what could be better?
“Sharing Australian music, art and culture is what Aussies do best, and I am just so delighted to see the Albanese Government investing almost $120,000 to support music festivals in our community.”
The Live Music Australia program is a competitive grants opportunity for live music venues, festivals and organisations that support quality original Australian live music.
Applications for the next round of funding will open in February and will target small to medium live music venues.
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