'These Are Real Gigs': Why Delivered, Live Offers Something New During COVID Lockdown

A number of live-streamed shows and music festivals have popped up in recent weeks in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, but new event, Delivered, Live, is unlike anything we’ve seen before... and you’ll still be able to watch it from your lounge.

Announced earlier this week, the debut festival will go ahead this Saturday with confirmed performances from the likes of CW Stoneking, Alex Lahey and Ali Barter. The festival will be streamed for free, but viewers can purchase a ticket through Oztix, which will help the industry and those working within it, including artists, managers, sound engineers and support staff.

What makes Delivered, Live even more special, is the fact that the Victorian Government have partnered with Handshake Agency for the project which came together in a bid to support the local music industry and regional communities.

“My brother Craig and I were looking for ways to support crew, families and staff,” Handshake’s Leigh Treweek tells The Music.

“We’ve got an incredible team around us. It’s amazing at times like this how ideas can flow. This one started between myself and Craig and then just grew amongst our staff, amongst the music community, amongst managers we were talking to, amongst booking agents and and, most of all, amongst the artists that we approached. There was huge support right from the start which meant we knew we could get at least this first one off the ground and we’re really proud of that.”

With the support of Steve Hibberd of Small Time TV and “world class streaming facilities” through Harry The Hirer, Delivered, Live could be the next best thing to live music shows.

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“They’ve put together a studio both in Melbourne and in Sydney and that means we have a little advantage... these are actual real gigs,” Treweek says.

“What we’re trying to do is, as best as possible, make them real gigs. You’ll be able to see it live on Saturday night and it then goes offline. We’ll pre-screen it on Sunday but then it’s gone for good. You’re not just going to be able to log back on and watch it on the artist’s Facebook. So, certainly, that’s a huge part of it - to try and recreate the gig environment.”

Delivered, Live won’t just support live music. It is also looking to champion the arts across the board, which is evident in the booking of local comics Andy Saunders and Sami Shah on the bill too.

“The beautiful thing about this gig is that the performers get a pay cheque,” Treweek says.

“They also get a share of the ticket revenue. We’re really hoping that people understand the ticketing concept. This gig on Saturday night is the equivalent a $59.90 ticket with so many well-known artists on the bill. We’re hoping people will log on online beforehand or as they’re watching and commit to buying a $10, $20, $30, $500 ticket - whatever people feel they can afford in these tough economic times.”

Treweek continues, “It’s going to be great entertainment. That line-up is a cracking line-up, the comedians are funny, there’ll be some incredible messaging from the Victorian Government around mental health and how those initiatives are being put forward and put in place to assist regional Victorians, who you’ve got to remember have just gotten through the bushfires and then come out of that to cop this. They’re hurting really bad. We’ve got some great messaging inside the show for that.

“This is a way to support your local artists. While you’re watching, we’d love to see their stores going off. So you’ve bought a ticket before, or during the gig, and straight away you head across and buy an Ali Barter t-shirt. That’s going to help everybody. The artists are supporting their crew. That’s really important.

“Each artist is selecting teams around them that would normally bring you live music and we’re hoping to be divvying up the funds so that those people get paid as well. You’re not just putting money in an artist’s pocket, you’re putting money in their support crew and the production teams that bring them to you when we’re not locked in our homes.”

Though nothing is confirmed yet, Treweek reveals there are discussions for Delivered, Live to be broadcast every Friday and Saturday night “only until the day - and we can’t wait for that day - that we can walk out our doors and head back to wherever your favourite gig joint is”.

The inaugural Delivered, Live kicks off this Saturday from 5pm. Check out the festival website for more details.

Leigh Treweek is a director of Handshake Media, owner of this website.