Melbourne Lockdown Extended; RISING Festival & Gigs Cancelled

Melbourne's lockdown will be extended for a further seven days.

The news was announced by Acting Premier James Merlino today. In addition to announcing that the state's capital will continue the lockdown, it was also also announced that regional Victoria will return to eased restrictions.

"We now have 60 local cases and more than 350 exposure sites. And a variant of the virus that is quicker and more contagious than we’ve seen before," said Merlino in a statement today.

"To date, the approach has been to track the spread through friends, family and workmates. People spending time together for minutes and hours – not seconds.

"What we’re seeing now is something else – something even more serious. At least one in ten current cases have caught this virus from a stranger."

While some restrictions will change for Melburnians - including 5km limitation for shopping and exercise expanded to 10km - the 'five reasons to leave home' rules will remain in place: shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and study, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated.

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In light of this news, the state's already battered live music scene takes another hit with further cancellations expected today. Included in these cancellations is the city's new RISING Festival which has officially announced the cancellation of its final three days.

It remains unclear which events will continue to go ahead in regional Victoria under the guidelines of "Outdoor seated entertainment, seated and unseated will have a patron cap of 50 people or 50 per cent of the venue's seating capacity, whichever is lower".

See the list below for shows expected to cancel in Melbourne, as well as a list of regional Victorian shows that are unclear.

The Victorian State Government has advised that they are in talks with Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to introduce a JobKeeper-style initiative to support industries and workers affected by the lockdown. Merlino has said that he expects to find out in this Friday's National Cabinet meeting if this support will be offered.

The State Government has also announced an expansion of the previously announced support packages, including the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund which will now see metropolitan Melbourne businesses holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate receive a $7,000 grant.

Despite being announced at the weekend, the $20 million Victorian Events Support Package - which is to be "dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit-breaker restrictions" - is still yet to have any details announced, though it has been announced that these "will be provided shortly".

Friday 4 June

Liz Stringer - Anglesea Memorial Hall , Anglesea, VIC
The Weeping Willows - Vine Hotel , North Wangaratta, VIC
Never Ending 80s - Pier Hotel , Frankston , VIC
Boom Crash Opera - The Palms at Crown , Southbank, VIC
Didirri - Sooki Lounge , Belgrave, VIC
Purple Revolution - Memo Music Hall , St Kilda, VIC
Papa Smurf + Yanzo + TKO + H.U.S - 170 Russell , Melbourne, VIC
Jason Singh - Barwon Club Hotel , South Geelong, VIC
San Cisco + Jaguar Jonze - The Forum , Melbourne, VIC
Connan Mockasin - Comedy Theatre , Melbourne, VIC
Vanessa Worm + Eden Burns + Party Dozen - Max Watt's , Melbourne, VIC
Jess Locke - Tanswells Commercial Hotel , Beechworth, VIC
Civic - The Croxton , Thornbury, VIC
Sputnik Sweetheart - Stay Gold , Brunswick, VIC
The Beths + Hachiku - Corner Hotel , Richmond, VIC
Bjorn Again - Mildura Arts Centre , Mildura, VIC
Rebetiko - Hawthorn Arts Centre , Hawthorn, VIC
Lost Ragas - Brunswick Ballroom , Brunswick, VIC
Matilda + Filthy Hart + Electric Toothbrush - The Gasometer Hotel , Collingwood, VIC
Pacific Avenue - Northcote Social Club , Northcote, VIC
Pacific Avenue (late show) - Northcote Social Club , Northcote, VIC
Cannon + Nat Vazer - The Old Bar , Fitzroy, VIC
Keaper - Volta Arts & Culture , Ballarat Central, VIC
Anna Smyrk + Marigolden + Tamara & The Dreams - Retreat Hotel , Brunswick, VIC
Eilish Gilligan - National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) , Southbank, VIC
Phi11a - Laundry Bar , Fitzroy, VIC
Tapes - The Leadbeater Hotel , Richmond , VIC
Drova + Long Hours + Soft Taco - Bar Open , Fitzroy, VIC
CW Stoneking - The Westernport Hotel , Phillip Island, VIC
Joel Adams - Evelyn Hotel , Fitzroy, VIC
The Clinch + The Opposition + Eight Count + The Dive Bombs - The Gasometer Hotel , Collingwood, VIC

Saturday 5 June

Kingswood + Cry Club + Shannen James + Psychobabel - Palais Theatre , St Kilda, VIC
Kim Churchill - Anglesea Memorial Hall , Anglesea, VIC
Stepson + Bloom + Rumours - Stay Gold , Brunswick, VIC
Never Ending 80s - York on Lilydale , Mt Evelyn, VIC
Into The Mystic - The Music of Van Morrison - Memo Music Hall , St Kilda, VIC
Jack Howard's Epic Brass - Brunswick Ballroom , Brunswick, VIC
Stonetrip + The Reasons Why - Mr Boogie Man Bar , Abbotsford, VIC
Cosentino - Her Majesty's Theatre , Ballarat, VIC
Shotgun Mistress + The Stripp - Whole Lotta Love , Brunswick East, VIC
San Cisco + Jaguar Jonze - Pier Hotel , Frankston , VIC
TOWNS - The Leadbeater Hotel , Richmond , VIC
Chris Abrahams - Melbourne Recital Centre , Southbank, VIC
DRMNGNOW + Kobie Dee + Pookie + SOVBLKPSSY - Max Watt's , Melbourne, VIC
Easy Riders + Aphids - Trades Hall , Carlton, VIC
Connan Mockasin - Comedy Theatre , Melbourne, VIC
Civic - Corner Hotel , Richmond, VIC
Bjorn Again - Swan Hill Town Hall , Swan Hill, VIC
Daine & Friends + Darcy Baylis + Lone + Webby - Kindred Studios , Yarraville, VIC
Electric Mary + Palace Of The King + Dead City Ruins + El Colosso - Max Watt's , Melbourne, VIC
Confidence Man + Mickey Kojak + Close Counters - The Forum , Melbourne, VIC
Bad Juju + Bukowski + AGAPANTHER + Rex Dante - The Workers Club , Fitzroy, VIC
Andy Bull - Northcote Social Club , Northcote, VIC
Keaper - Handle Bar , Bendigo, VIC
Painters & Dockers- Hotel Westwood , Footscray, VIC
Rocket Science - Brunswick Ballroom , Brunswick, VIC
skybelly + Belkil + Malibu Spacey - Bar Open , Fitzroy, VIC
Paul McIver - Bar Open , Fitzroy, VIC

Sunday 6 June

Claps + Komang + Don Glori + Emelyne - Evelyn Hotel , Fitzroy, VIC
The Weeping Willows - Delatite Hotel , Mansfield, VIC
Kim Churchill - Sooki Lounge , Belgrave, VIC
The Martini Set - The Bridge Hotel , Castlemaine, VIC
Opal Ocean - Howler , Brunswick, VIC
Chris Smith + Lost Animal + Ov Pain - Max Watt's , Melbourne, VIC
Tony Buck - Melbourne Recital Centre , Southbank, VIC
Civic - Singing Bird Studios , Frankston, VIC
Yacht Rock - Evelyn Hotel , Fitzroy, VIC
Lune + Starve + Elision - Northcote Social Club , Northcote, VIC
Denise Scott + N'Fa Jones + Samuel Johnson + Janelle Da Silva + Mama Alto - Brunswick Ballroom , Brunswick, VIC
Vauus - The Workers Club , Fitzroy, VIC
Geoff Achison - The Westernport Hotel , Phillip Island, VIC
The Laing Brothers - The Westernport Hotel , Phillip Island, VIC

Tuesday 8 June

Human Nature - West Gippsland Arts Centre , Warragul, VIC
Lior - Latrobe Performing Arts Centre , Traralgon , VIC

Wednesday 9 June

Human Nature - Ulumbarra Theatre , Bendigo, VIC
Grand Salvo + The Orbweavers - Comedy Theatre , Melbourne, VIC
Lior - West Gippsland Arts Centre , Warragul, VIC
The Maes - Corner Hotel , Richmond, VIC
Sunny Reyne + Isadora & Mauro Lauritz - Bar Open , Fitzroy, VIC

Thursday 10 June

Slowly Slowly - 170 Russell , Melbourne, VIC
Chamber Obscura - Open Studio , Northcote, VIC
Didirri - Sandy Point Community Centre , Sandy Point, VIC
Polaris + Deadlights - Wool Exchange , Geelong, VIC
Anna Cordell + Ben Mason - Brunswick Ballroom , Brunswick, VIC
Lior - The Forge Theatre , Bairnsdale, VIC
Hooper Crescent + Thigh Master + The Person - Northcote Social Club , Northcote, VIC
DJ Joey Lightbulb + Aboubacar Djelike Kouyate + Kofi Kunkpe Traditional Drumming - Baby Snakes Bar , Footscray, VIC
Jazz Party - Hotel Westwood , Footscray, VIC
Tiny Little Houses - Corner Hotel , Richmond, VIC
Amyl & The Sniffers - The Croxton , Thornbury, VIC
The Carpal Tunnel Band + Faxman - Bar Open , Fitzroy, VIC
Empress - Evelyn Hotel , Fitzroy, VIC
The Rubens - Whalers Hotel , Warrnambool, VIC

Head here to see the list of previously cancelled/postponed gigs.