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A city synonymous with music has led to a key report on how to retain and support Dunedin’s live music scene.
Covid and the closure of several key live venues caused consternation in a city known for its musical pedigree, which ranged from the Wellerman Sea Shanty, the ‘Dunedin Sound’ era – featuring the likes of The Chills, The Clean and Straitjacket Fits – to the stadium-filling sound of Six60.
A lack of suitable venues and noise complaints had affected those in the industry. That was compounded in recent years by the loss of several venues, including Sammy’s and Dog With Two Tails.
It led to the formation of the group Save Dunedin Live Music, which assisted Dunedin City Council staff and others in the industry to produce the Ōtepoti Live Music Action Plan 2023.
CRAIG MCNAB/Stuff
The Clean influenced bands in New Zealand as well as overseas.
The report noted the city’s musical heritage and global influence, which added to the city’s vibrancy and sense of community.
The two-year work on the draft plan had already led to some changes, including how the council managed the likes of noise complaints.
The report also suggested the council investigate options for a mid-sized venue for live music, as well as identifying any council-owned properties suitable for rehearsal and teaching spaces.
If the council adopted the plan, it would ‘demonstrate leadership in the creative sector’, the report noted, as it would be adopting the country’s first live music action plan.
Matt Gerrand/Stuff
Stuff’s Tribal series on Dunedin featured The Beatniks playing at a house party.
The draft plan, which will be presented to the council’s community services committee on Tuesday, aims to support artists and their audience alike, by ensuring the city has a range of live music options.
Those behind the plan looked across the Tasman at how other cities were supporting live music, as they faced increasing inner city residential development.
The report also noted that in March 2020, Dunedin’s arts and culture sector peaked with 2580 jobs.
Between 2019 and 2022, creative organisations and individuals attracted more than $5.5 million Creative New Zealand funds into the city.
Hamish McNeilly/Stuff
Jones Chin, of The Crown, a popular live music venue in Dunedin.
The meeting will also provide updates on several council-owned venues, including Sammy’s, which the council bought the leasehold property for $128,000 in 2017.
The report noted the building was rated a ‘high to very high risk’ in the event of an earthquake, and that estimated costs to develop a structural strengthening scheme for the building were now outdated.
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