‘Complete Disaster’: Former Vic Music Industry Member Blasts ALWAYS LIVE

Former Queenscliff Music Festival Director Andrew Orvis has blasted Victoria’s State Government-supported ALWAYS LIVE program following its recent 2024 line-up announcement. 

It was revealed this week that the contemporary live music initiative would return for its third year, running from November 22 to December 8 with big names including Jack White, St. Vincent, The Offspring and stacks more locked in.

Through Visit Victoria, the State Government supports the program via its Community Support Fund.

In an open letter shared to Facebook, Orvis described ALWAYS LIVE as a “complete disaster for the industry” and an “ill-conceived idea”.

“I am yet to speak to anyone in the industry that actually thinks [this] is a positive [idea],” he said.

“ALWAYS LIVE creates uneven competition in the industry - it’s very hard to compete with the millions in government funding they receive each year. It also creates state-to-state competition, that then becomes even harder for others to compete with.

“It detracts from existing and established festivals and events that are all doing it so extremely tough right now. Do we want ALWAYS LIVE to still be here in 10 years, or do we want some of our long-established festivals and venues that we all know and love to still be here?! It’s competing with an entire industry it also claims to support.

“It’s tourism money, so all about the ‘tourism impacts’ - but it spends big money on shows with very little economic impact potential.”

Orvis acknowledged that seeing Jack White perform an intimate gig at The Corner Hotel would be “fucking awesome” but asked how that benefited the industry. He also questioned whether Missy Higgins’ Sidney Myer Music Bowl event needed government support.

“Their program is paying big money for artists, setting unattainable fee levels and precedence for other events and venues. Finances are tough and tight as it is!

“It also feels like it’s wasting money on supporting tours and shows that could have happened anyway without wasting loads of taxpayers’ money, or using that money to support existing events and venues that actually need it. 

“I actually get it when they’re bringing Foo Fighters for a one off, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé… but when it’s just supporting another show, which could happen regardless… what’s the point?!

“The industry is at breaking point, crying out for help, and has been pretty clear what some of the issues are…. ALWAYS LIVE doesn’t address any of the issues the industry is currently facing, rather it just creates more.

“Sorry to those out there that do lots of great work pulling this together, and working on these shows and tours - it’s not your fault. I feel it’s just a really horribly bad idea, that I’m yet to hear anybody say anything positive about other than a couple of politicians and public servants.

“More than willing to hear opinions to the contrary. It’s now or never for the music industry. Festivals cancelling, venues closing… I felt someone had to speak up!”

Orvis claims that others within the Victorian music scene “are too scared to echo my sentiments for fear of repercussions”, but that he spoke up as he is no longer within the industry.

Back in March, Orvis stepped down from Queenscliff Music Festival after ten years running the event and 16 years working for the festival.

The Music reached out to ALWAYS LIVE this afternoon, but at time of publication has not yet received comment.

After publication, The Music heard from Frank Stivala of Premier Artists, who offered some helpful suggestions for supporting Australian artists and venues.

“[Andrew] has many valid points that, in most cases, there is a waste of money,” Stivala remarked. “The best government music initiative in the country, in my opinion, is NSW’s Great Southern Nights program, which benefits many Australian artists and venues.”

Stivala added, “Victoria can take a page from their book and use the money with a similar model, still support some international shows, and have the best of both worlds. This would make it work well on many different levels, and best utilises the government money with maximum impact.”