Artists including The Rubens and Anna Lunoe have thrown their support behind the newly established Australian Music Venue Foundation (AMVF), which today also announces its new board members and first sponsors.

The organisation was born with a focus on supporting grassroots music venues. Led by founding members Harley Evans, Howard Adams, Mardi Caught, Tam Boakes—recently named CEO—and Mark Davyd from the UK’s Music Venue Trust, the AMVF doesn’t just focus on venues, but also affordable access to live music fans.

New members joining the AMVF board are Music Victoria and Loog Management Executive Director Fiona Duncan, Freo.Social Director James Legge, Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid’s John “JC” Collins, The Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club Managing Director Tim Northeast, Crowbar Group CEO Tyla Dombroski, and advisory council member Julia Robinson, the Head of Government Relations and Programs at ARIA and PPCA.

In addition to naming new board members, the AMVF has entered into strategic partnerships with Universal Music Group, Moshtix and UNIFIED Music Group, all of whom have joined the team as early sponsors.

The local music community, such as The Rubens, Anna Lunoe, Velvet Trip, Phoebe Go, and Darcie Haven, aren’t just showing support for the AMVF, they’ve also been named the organisation’s first artist ambassadors.

“We had to play a lot of shows before we were a band worth listening to, and small venues like Oxford Art Factory and Candy’s Apartment gave us the space to learn, fail, and grow,” The Rubens explained. “Without these spaces, artists wouldn’t have anywhere to find their feet and audiences wouldn’t find their new favourite ‘thing’, and things are awesome.”

Highlighting the importance of grassroots music venues for electronic artists, Anna Lunoe added, “Australia’s electronic music culture starts in grassroots venues. We don’t go from our bedrooms into stadiums.

“Community spaces spark creativity, connect us to our future audience, create communities, careers and showcase the diversity and innovation that define our national sound. They provide more than just stages for performance — they are cultural incubators that keep the scene alive and evolving.”

Discussing the importance of grassroots live music venues, Velvet Trip’s Zeppelin said, “When I first moved from Byron to Sydney, I spent most nights drifting between the little venues in Kings Cross that hosted blues jams.

“I’d bring my guitar along and see if I could jump in for a song or two. Those nights opened up the world for me - they made music feel possible, and showed me there was a whole community of people chasing the same dream. At the same time, I was catching gigs all over the inner-west, daydreaming about starting my own project and hoping to meet others who felt the same pull towards music and collaboration.

“Without those small, grassroots venues, I don’t think I - or many of my peers - would have found each other, let alone started building careers in music. I care about these spaces deeply, because they really shaped the path I’m on today.”

Phoebe Go concluded, “Venues hold history and energy, and they give us a sense of belonging. They’re not a luxury. They’re infrastructure. Like the supermarket or the train station. They keep us going.

“I’ve been playing in venues since I was about 15. At first accompanied by my folks or sneaking in the side door. Since then, I’ve played rooms that hold 50 people and rooms that hold 5,000. In no particular order. The size isn’t the thing. What matters is that people are coming together. That’s the whole point.”