It is with an extremely heavy heart that Sounds Australia announces the cancellation of Friday’s live-stream event 3 For The Stream.
This morning, Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency for Victoria, therefore we have decided that it would be irresponsible to proceed with our planned 3 For The Stream event in Melbourne this Friday, at a time when authorities are stressing the need for social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Last Monday we began to devise a contingency plan for the Australian artists set to showcase at SXSW 2020. What we came up with was 3 For The Stream: 3-song sets from 19 of those artists, filmed across multiple stages at Bakehouse Studios in Melbourne. At the time, this felt like the best way we could support those artists and their teams, who had invested thousands of dollars into an event that was no longer happening, as well as promote their music to an international audience of music industry buyers and potential new fans. The enthusiasm of the multiple partners for our event – Art Series Hotel by Accor, Bakehouse Studios, Comes With Fries, Facebook, SXSW, TAG and Young Henry’s – demonstrates how much support there is for these artists in incredibly challenging times.
However, a week is a long time in this environment, and the mood has greatly shifted as the impact of COVID-19 starts to worsen in many parts of the world. The decision to cancel 3 For The Stream was not taken lightly. Now is not the time for an event that will bring people into close proximity. We need to work together to flatten the curve, to protect those who are most vulnerable to this virus. Everyone must do what needs to be done to ensure the impact of the coronavirus is limited as much as possible.
The COVID-19 outbreak is having a devastating impact on the Australian music industry, which contributes $2.5 billion annually to the local economy. I Lost My Gig, an initiative of the Australian Music Industry Network and Australian Festival Association, has calculated the total lost income from cancelled events so far at $47 million, with 20,000 employment opportunities lost, affecting 190,000 people. Sounds Australia will continue to innovate and pivot to support Australian artists and industry as best we can in these unprecedented times.
While you’re practising social distancing and regularly washing your hands, here is a list of the 43 Australian acts who were poised to showcase in Austin, Texas this week as part of SXSW 2020. If you’re in a position to support them, we have included To Buy links for each artist. You can also listen to a song from each of them on our SXSW 2020 playlist.
Alex the Astronaut
Official Website | Merch Store | Join Alex’s Space Club
Alexander Biggs
Official Website | Bandcamp | Join Mailing List
Ali Barter
Official Website | Merch Store | Join Mailing List
Alice Skye
Bandcamp
Anatole
Bandcamp
Banoffee
Bandcamp
BATTS
Bandcamp
Betty Who
Official Website | Merch Store | Join Mailing List
Borzoi
Bandcamp
Cable Ties
Bandcamp | Merge Records
Carla Geneve
Bandcamp
Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird
Merch Store
Didirri
Official Website | Merch Store | Join Mailing List
Eliza & The Delusionals
Official Website | Merch Store | Bandcamp
Evelyn Ida Morris
Official Website | Bandcamp
Flyying Colours
Bandcamp
Fraeya
CD Baby
Gena Rose Bruce
Bandcamp
Go Fever
Official Website | Merch Store | Bandcamp
Good Morning
Bandcamp
Hachiku
Official Website | Bandcamp
HTRK
Official Website | Merch Shop | Bandcamp
Jack River
Official Website | Merch Store
Jack Gray
Official Website | Join Mailing List
Jaguar Jonze
Official Website | Merch Store
Jamie-Lee Dimes
Official Website | Merch Store
Kota Banks
Official Website | Merch Store
Lime Cordiale
Official Website | Merch Store | Join Mailing List
Luke Howard
Official Website | Merch Store
MANE
Official Website
Pub Choir
Official Website
Quivers
Bandcamp
River Boy
Triple J Unearthed
San Mei
Official Website | Bandcamp
Shady Nasty
Official Website | Bandcamp
Sophie Hutchings
Official Website | Bandcamp
Sui Zhen
Official Website | Bandcamp
Surf Rock Is Dead
Official Website | Bandcamp
The Lazy Eyes
Bandcamp
The Wonder
Official Website | Bandcamp
Thigh Master
Bandcamp
Tim Shiel
Bandcamp
Tom West
Official Website | Bandcamp
If you’re in Australia, we encourage keeping up-to-date and following advice from the Australian Government Department of Health. You can visit their website at http://www.health.gov.au. For health enquiries you can contact the Coronavirus Information Line 1800 020 080. The World Health Organisation has set up a page specifically for information relating to the coronavirus: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019