‘Fighting to find our place’: New residency to champion Australian artists

A new residency set to champion Australian artists is making music accessible as tensions bubble in the industry amid a slew of festival cancellations. Newtown’s Pleasure Club have announced a week-long residency packed with local artists, including singer and songwriter Vera Blue and model-turned-musician Sarah Ellen, who is set to make her musical debut with her new band Pamela. The residency, coined Ruby Dreams in partnership with New Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, boasts free entry for audiences as the cost of living crisis slaps patrons, and comes as local musicians struggle to stay afloat amid constant festival cancellations, including Spilt Milk and Splendour In The Grass. Underlying tensions in the Australian music industry, which have been simmering for years, have also posed a challenge to local musicians, with the ARIA charts dominated by international artists. This week’s top 50 singles only features four Aussie artists, including Girls and Nights Like This by The Kid Laroi (sitting at 18 and 27 respectively), Cyril’s Stumblin In (36), and Vance Joy’s Riptide (34), which was released more than 10 years ago. In addition, discussions have heated up in recent months over whether Michael’s Rule should be implemented, which would make it mandatory for international artists to include an Australian artist as part of their opening acts, in memory of Canadian-Australian music manager Michael McMartin. Blue said Aussie artists often feel as though they’re “fighting” for their place in the music industry, and hopes change will soon make more space for local artists. “I think it’s really important that our industry really comes together and really supports Australian artists, because we have so much talent and so much to offer, and we have so much to offer overseas as well,” she said. “There has been a lot of tension brought on international acts, and with all the charts and things like that, so it is difficult for Australian acts — we feel like we’re kind of fighting to find our place in this industry.” She added constant cancellations, including festivals, is “so hard for the industry”. “There’s lots of variables and reasons for (cancellations), so I think any way we can collaborate with brands and things to create unique experiences for the audience to be able to attend for free is really cool.” Blue will be reimagining hits from her catalogue with a host of new and unique instruments and sounds, during the residency. However the Hold singer revealed she will also be bringing new music to the stage. “There’s going to be a couple new songs at this point that I haven’t performed live before which is really exciting,” she said. Blue said she’s excited to create a more intimate, multi-sensory show for the audience. Burlesque artist Porcelain Alice will also perform during the residency, which runs from 9pm on August 14 and 4pm onwards August 15 to 18 at the Pleasure Club in Newtown. Odd Culture entertainment manager Sabrina Medcalf said each performer has been chosen “meticulously”, while one of Australia’s leading bartenders, Jake Down, will be serving up a carefully curated menu of cocktails. “Pleasure Club’s featured artists embody our steadfast commitment to diverse and innovative music experiences,” she said. “Each performer is meticulously chosen to align with our ethos of embracing the strange, celebrating the unique, and providing our guests with a space where they can truly be themselves.”