Council
8 August, 2025
New plan to grow live music
WARRNAMBOOL City Council this week adopted the ‘Creative Warrnambool Strategy’ at its meeting on Monday night.
The first initiative borne from the strategy is the development of the Live Music Action Plan and delivery of the 2025 Warrnambool Live Program – a series of music events for the CBD in October and November.
Expressions of interest are now open for venues, musicians and businesses related to the live music industry who would like to be involved, with the Live Music Office, APRA AMCOS and One Music partnering with council to provide funding.
These can be lodged on the newly launched Creative Warrnambool website at https://creative.warrnambool.vic.gov.au.
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said the new strategy, website and music festival were all part of continuing the momentum from the huge success of triple J’s One Night Stand.
“While the name of the event was One Night Stand, we have been really strategic both before and after the event in developing partnerships that continue to support live music in Warrnambool,” Cr Blain said.
“SongHubs, SongMakers, the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio, the Tram Tracks Tour, the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS have all run programs here since last year’s One Night Stand, resulting in multiple musical recordings and industry experiences for local musicians.”
Cr Blain said that as well as gauging interest in the Warrnambool Live event, the sign-up process would help create an ongoing database to help venues find artists and vice-versa.
“We know there are businesses that want to host live music, and we know for sure there are musicians looking for more gigs,” he said.
“So as well as helping to match people for this specific event, the aim is to create a long-term resource. We’re starting with musicians and the plan is to expand to include painters, sculptors, dancers, performers and every other creative field.
“Looking at the amazing new Musical Warrnambool mural at the railway station, two things are clear. One is that Warrnambool has a long, proud and diverse history in the creative sphere, and the second is that for too long our creative achievements have flown under the radar.
“We want to work together with the community to bring visibility to our local talent and help connect creatives with the people, spaces and opportunities.”
To read the Creative Warrnambool Strategy and for more information about Warrnambool Live visit https://creative.warrnambool.vic.gov.au.
