$75000 for West Best Bloc Fest

The Minns Labor Government is driving long-term viability and growth in the live music industry by supporting events and venues to build audiences through local music festivals, all ages gigs, digital platforms and content.

The live music sector has been under sustained financial pressure since the COVID pandemic due to sharply rising costs and changing audience patterns. Building on a series of initiatives to address these challenges, the NSW Government has awarded its first round of Local Audience Development Grants, aimed specially at growing audiences at the grassroots of the music sector.

The grants will support 28 events and venues with up to $100,000 each, including $75,000 for Newcastle's West Best Bloc Fest — support that will allow the festival to strengthen its offering to the local community and develop into a blockbuster event attracting increasing numbers of visitors.

Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp believes the festival's importance to the region cannot be overstated.

"West Best Bloc Fest is one of the most exciting and important events for local musicians and music lovers," he said.

"The festival activates multiple local businesses and venues and offers a stage and exposure to new audiences for local artists of all ages and genres. The NSW Labor Government introduced these grants because we want to see music festivals, venues, and artists thrive in our state."

Founder of West Best Bloc Fest Dylan Oakes claims momentum behind the event continues to grow, "West Best Bloc Fest is entering its fifth year and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger," he said.

"With the help of this grant, we can continue to provide a stage for upcoming and established talent from Newcastle and the Hunter region."

The grant is part of a broader NSW Government commitment to the live music sector, which includes establishing the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund in September 2024 — allocating a combined $2.25 million in emergency funding to five festivals in FY2024/25 — as well as quadrupling the number of venues able to access extended trading hours for live music, ending single serial noise complaints shutting down music venues, and introducing the Music Bill 2026 to protect the industry through legislation.

The Government has also created the NSW Music Prize, Australia's largest cash music prize totalling $160,000 across three award categories, introduced 'Michael's Rule' incentives for international touring artists to book local support acts across the Venues NSW network and the Sydney Opera House, and delivered recording, touring and promotion grants to help artists create new work and build their careers. Venue upgrade and soundproofing grants are also available to help operators get their venues gig-ready.