Victoria's Lockdown Is Ending Tonight - Here's What It Means For Live Music

Victoria's lockdown will end tonight at 11.59pm but it's not all good news for live music and hospitality venues with new restrictions in place. 

The news was announced by Premier Daniel Andrews this morning. 

"A range of restrictions will ease across Victoria tonight, thanks to the incredible work of our public health teams and every single Victorian who has done their part to keep our community safe from coronavirus," said Andrews in a statement today. 

"Following a reduction in community transmission of coronavirus in Victoria, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has advised that the lockdown will be lifted state-wide from 11.59pm tonight.

"There are still thousands of Victorians in quarantine and people will need to remain vigilant to stay on top of this highly infectious Delta variant. That means COVIDSafe behaviours like checking in everywhere, every time, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated when you’re eligible will remain key as we cautiously open up again.

"From 11.59pm tonight, Victorians will be able to leave their homes for any reason. Restaurants and cafes can also reopen for seated service. Retail and beauty and personal care will open in line with density limits, as will entertainment venues and community facilities."

While venues are allowed to reopen, they are subject to restriction with Andrews saying "Live music venues, dance classes and physical recreation facilities, including gyms, will all open with density requirements of 1 person per 4sqm". 

See below for the restrictions which will come into effect from 11.59pm tonight. 

Restrictions in entertainment and leisure venues

• Indoor fixed seated entertainment: Open to a maximum of 100 people per space. Group limit of 10 people. Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies in non-seated areas. COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in. 
• Outdoor fixed seated entertainment: Open to a maximum of 300 people per space. Group limit of 10 people. Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies in non-seated areas. COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in.
• Indoor non-seated entertainment venues: Open to a maximum of 100 people per space. Group limit of 10 people. Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies in non-seated areas. COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in. 
• Outdoor non-seated entertainment: Open to a maximum of 300 people per space. Group limit of 10 people. Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies in non-seated areas. COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in.

Continued disruptions from COVID lockdowns and border restrictions have already seen the postponement of key Victorian music events including Fitzroy's Leaps & Bounds Festival and the cancellation of Brisbane's annual BIGSOUND conference with a statement citing “the ongoing NSW lockdown combined with Melbourne’s snap lockdown, increasing uncertainty around border closures and capacity restrictions have made it painfully clear that BIGSOUND cannot responsibly take to the stage in September" for the cancellation. 

Music industry leaders are calling for greater financial support for artists and industry following Victoria's fifth lockdown with Music Victoria's CEO Simone Schinkel telling The Music last week that the industry is "bleeding talent and skills as a result" of the ongoing crisis. 

"Some gigs have now been rescheduled nine times over, and now we are running out of dates to which we can reschedule," continued Schinkel. 

"Others events scheduled for after the lockdown has lifted, will need to immediately halve their capacity (due to the density quotient restrictions) - which results in yet another reschedule, or twice the amount of work (putting on 2 shows a night) for the same income..."

"We’d love to be able to return immediately to 100% capacities with the removal of all travel restrictions but knowing that the reality of that won’t happen until we are all vaccinated - we desperately need further financial support."

For more information on Victoria's COVID restrictions, head here.