Freo.Social To Receive $150,000 In Federal Funding For Sound Insulation

All year, the local music community across Fremantle has rallied to save the cultural institution, Freo.Social, from development.

Freo.Social hosts over 200 live music events each year, featuring emerging WA talent, nationally touring artists, and international acts.

The Music reported in February that the live music venue, which can host 900 punters at its events, was being threatened with closure due to noise complaints as a new hotel was being built next door.

Earlier this year, the local music community launched a campaign to save the beloved venue. At the same time, Freo.Social management reportedly accused the City of Fremantle of abandoning them as they fought developer Silver Leaf.

Local musicians such as The Waifs’ Donna Simpson, Abbe May, The Southern River Band’s Cal Kramer, and Carla Geneve were just some of the artists who publicly shared support for Freo.Social.

All those efforts didn’t happen in vain. The Albanese Labor Government has listened and announced $150,000 in funding for new sound insulation at the venue to protect its future.

The funding is the maximum grant possible under the federal government’s Revive Live program, which supports live music venues and music festivals. The funding will go towards major upgrades, such as installing acoustic roof panels and insulating the domed roof of Freo.Social’s Drill Hall, acoustic drapes, and noise monitoring.

“We are very grateful to have received this Revive Live grant from the Federal Government, which will enable us to complete critical acoustic works at Freo.Social,” said James Legge, Managing Director of Freo.Social.

Legge continued, “This grant will help safeguard the venue's future, which not only allows us to continue supporting the local music scene and employment in the sector, but also to continue to host national and international artist tours.   

“The support of grassroots music venues across Australia is now more important than ever, and grants such as these assist in protecting the industry.”

Josh Wilson, Federal Member of Fremantle, added, “Freo.Social has been on the back foot since this saga began, and there was a lot of community concern. Now, we can plan for the long-term future of this music mecca.

“I know how important this is to Freo. I’ve grown up with music in my family – my dad helped manage this venue when it was the Fly by Night Club. We can now build on this incredible story and Freo.Social can start a new, better chapter.

“Freo has always been a dynamic, evolving place and with change there will always be challenges. Those challenges are not resolved by talking Freo down but instead require constructive problem-solving. I’ll keep working hard to protect the things we love with real funding that supports real and positive change.”