Keep Sydney Open Rally Stands Up For Music & Nightlife

Over the weekend the Keep Sydney Open rally drew over 15,000 supporters to march from Belmore Park to Hyde Park culminating in the unification of music and nightlife communities against Sydney’s lock-out laws.

The rally’s aim was to see the removal of 1:30am lock-outs, exemptions from 3am cease of service for live music venues, and an invitation from the NSW Government to discuss alternative strategies to keep Sydney’s nightlife safe and vibrant.

“They’ve played political football with our nightlife and also the vibrancy of our city…We have a lot of measures on the table that we know will achieve this, and we’re looking at alternative policies based on how other cities have managed to both have a vibrant and safe night life.,” said DJ Tyson Koh during his speech at the rally.

Throughout the day increased policing, 24-hour weekend public transport, first aid tents, and street marshals were discussed as alternatives to the current lockout laws.

The day saw speeches from industry leaders Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures), Dave Falkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Bernard Keane (Crickey.com), Nina Las Vegas (NLV Records), and Tyson Koh (RAGE), as well as performances by Royal Headache and Art vs Science.

The rally comes just one day after a report by APRA AMCOS stated revenue for Live Music Performances has dropped by 40% in Sydney’s CBD since the introduction of the laws*** and revenue from the use of music for dance purposes is down 19%.

The rally has been compared Save Live Australia’s Music’s rally in 2010 pulling a crowd of 17,000 people and cited as instrumental in the removal of Melbourne lock-outs in favor of other measure breathing life into a city many now call Australia’s cultural capital.

Sydney has truly launched itself into the fight for it’s right to party, will Brisbane follow?

Check out the best of the rally’s hilarious placards HERE.