NEWS

February 2022

BYRON MUSIC FESTIVAL LAUNCHES BYRON MUSIC PODCAST

Byron Music Productions has launched the Byron Music Podcast – a series of discussions about music, culture, and wellbeing recorded live at the inaugural Byron Music Festival.

At Byron’s first ever music industry conference at Byron Theatre in June 2021, this was a music industry conference with a twist – uniquely drawing back the curtain for the public to be part of conversations that would normally only be held amongst those in the industry itself.

The conference gave audiences the unique opportunity to be part of conversations about how the industry works, what challenges it faces, and how to help support the future of music in our region.

Byron Music Festival Director Nick Sergi said “I’m proud that we can bring these important conversations to our town and beyond. We covered huge topics that were well received and uncovered just how much the public needs to hear these stories. We hope this will result in a stronger bond between local artists and audiences, and a deeper understanding of why culture matters throughout society that ultimately leads to the arts being more valued”.

The program was a diverse line-up of keynotes, panel discussions, and performances from high-profile and local industry representatives and artists excited to share their stories and insights with the wider community.

Local musician and broadcaster, and conference panellist and performer Nathan Kaye said “It was an honour to be a part of the Byron Music Festival Industry Conference. Each panel discussed vital issues that our local music industry and community face including the importance of arts in the community. And it’s the small to mid-level artists that struggle the most, get the least credit, but upon whose shoulders the whole music industry stands”.

BMF Operations Manager and co-programmer of the industry conference Monique Hartman said “The conference component of BMF helped anchor the festival in the meaning behind what we do. It’s to bring the sense of community the creative industries need at this crucial time for the sector, and to build that community around Byron – the town that is renowned for nurturing the arts. It’s equally for artists and the wider community … demonstrating yet again how the arts bring people together”.

The first series has six episodes covering a range of topics including the value of the arts, empowering youth through music, mental health & wellbeing, conscious music making and consumption, and the future of live music.

The Byron Music Podcast is available to stream from Thursday 24 February on the BMF website www.byronmusicfestival.com.au where you can also find a detailed description of each topic and learn about the panellists.

Byron Music Podcast is produced by Alain De Carne and Monique Hartman for Byron Music Productions Pty Ltd at Alleyway Studio and partially funded by Create NSW (CASP Program).

February 2022

BYRON MUSIC FESTIVAL 2021 DECLARED CARBON NEGATIVE

Byron Music Festival (BMF) has been officially declared a carbon negative event.

Organisers of the inaugural event held at Byron Bay’s iconic beachfront Dening Park in June 2021 announced with environmental consultancy Earthed Consultants this week that carbon offsets in the form of tree planting and other operational adjustments meant the festival was able to reach this ambitious goal in it’s first year of operation.

“We are stoked to get the festival to this status in the first year,” said BMF Festival Director Nick Sergi.

“There are many challenges to getting a festival to even a carbon neutral status, as there are so many working parts – multiple stakeholders and suppliers who run their business differently, and offsetting can be really expensive, so it was an ambitious goal for us to aim for neutrality in the first year but we really wanted to give it a go and see what we could achieve because being environmentally responsible is important to us.

We’re so grateful that everyone involved in the festival were on board to help us do the best we could; to get to negative is just fantastic”.

BMF had a zero-waste target, zero plastic policy, and the strictest parameters of any other activation held on the same site to ensure minimal impact on the neighbouring dunes.

Partnerships with Byron Rangers and Earthed Consultants helped the festival team deliver these goals.

Founder of Earthed Consultants, Jen Kyna said “We were thrilled to measure, calculate and offset the carbon emissions for the Byron Music Festival; working together on emission reduction and community partnership projects to reduce the festival's environmental impact.

They truly are transforming the music industry's impact on the environment"⁠.

Byron Rangers CEO Dean Steele-Bennett said “Byron Rangers were proud to be part of the BMF2021 team and deliver on an amazing community event. [the] festival site and surrounding beaches were left extremely clean. We confidently believe the festival delivered on the environmental promise to the community”.

The BMF team also did a walk on country with Delta Kay (Explore Byron Bay) prior to the festival to learn about and gain respect for the country the festival is operating on.

⁠BMF Operations Manager Monique Hartman said “We are committed to leading the way in eco-friendly event management.

It is possible to put on a cool, fun event, and respect country and do the right thing by the environment at the same time.

It’s an extension of the festival ethos of ‘keeping it Byron’. It makes total sense that if you’re going to have any kind of event in beautiful Byron Bay that you do it consciously. We are really excited to keep growing this aspect of the festival”.

Byron Music Festival has been the only music festival to proceed in the NSW Northern Rivers since December 2019 due to the pandemic.

Held over 3 days and 11 venues showcasing a 100% local line-up, the grass-roots community event featured a youth music showcase and Byron Bay’s first and only music industry conference, with the vision to reinvigorate Byron’s music industry post-COVID and activate the township during low tourist season.

Plans are in place to bring BMF back in 2022 and announcements will be made soon. BMF is seeking partnerships to fund the expanded plans for its environmental policies.

Other partnership and investment opportunities are also now available.

For more information visit www.byronmusicfestival.com.au

Email nick@byronmusicfestival.com.au or phone 02 6685 7333.

June 2021

BYRON MUSIC FESTIVAL 2021 BRINGS THE MUSIC BACK TO BYRON

SOLD OUT INAGURAL EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS

The Byron Bay community came alive with music last weekend thanks to the sold-out inaugural Byron Music Festival 2021.

Boasting twelve separate events held over three days across eleven venues, the grass-roots event presented by the beloved local music shop Byron Music aimed to create a family friendly music festival that the local community could enjoy.

And from all accounts the goal was achieved, with the majority of attendees coming from the immediate Byron Bay region (Arakwal Country) and the wider Bunjalung nation, followed by visitors from Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

“We’re so glad our vision for the local community came to fruition,” said Festival Director Nick Sergi. “The whole town really helped us make this happen, and as we always wanted this was a festival for the Byron Bay community, businesses and artists”.

Locals were the main beneficiaries of a local music festival that kept it’s admission prices as accessible as possible, whilst businesses concurrently benefited from an increase in winter trade and overnight visitors in one of the predominantly quietest weeks of the year for the town.

Jodi Sharpe from official festival venue The Northern said “it was the biggest weekend we’ve had since COVID hit”.

Artists were wrapped to be performing to a live audience and music professionals were ecstatic to be amongst their industry family creating magic together again.

Ham from Drop Legs beamed “It was one of the best gigs of our lives – a definite career highlight”.

Kyle Lionhart wrote on Instagram “That was one hell of a way to celebrate being able to sing, dance & huddle together, with our fellow human family… I got pretty overwhelmed not only by the response but to have everyone including friends and family from my greater Byron community singing to each other “isn’t this a beautiful life” after the year we’ve had, was beyond heart-warming & then to top it off there was a marriage proposal at the end of the song - this was a show for the books”.

Participants in Byron’s first music industry conference open to the public were thrilled with the calibre of speakers and content – all amazing each other with intelligent and inspiring knowledge sharing across a diverse range of topics that affect the industry and it’s audiences.

Local multi-talent Nathan Kaye said “It was an honour to be a part of the Byron Music Festival Industry Conference. Each panel discussed vital issues that our local music industry and community face including the importance of arts in the community. And it’s the small to mid-level artists that struggle the most, get the least credit, but upon whose shoulders the whole music industry stands”.

Radio star Sarah Howells of ABC Radio said “Byron Music Festival was so incredible … I already can’t wait for next year”!

At a time when business confidence in events is at an all-time low due to the uncertainty driven by the pandemic, events have suffered to get financial backing required to produce events such as Byron Music Festival 2021, which has stifled the return of many live cultural activities.

“Commercial investment is vital to the arts industry. The government funding available is not enough to go around so we really do need commercial partnerships to bring these events to our community to benefit our regions culturally and economically. It is a group effort,” said BMF2021 Operations Manager Monique Hartman.

“We’re immensely grateful to the brave and generous business who took a leap of faith on an inaugural event and encourage more businesses to invest in their local arts community”.

Major event partner Lucy Burns from Lion Co. said “It was a great partnership. Byron Bay Brewery was pleased to come on board and support this local festival in its first year and look forward to many more”.

BMF 2021 Programming and Marketing Manager Alain De Carne thanked everyone involved from artists to suppliers and crew and said, “the biggest thanks goes out to all the punters who came out to support live music”.

Danny Salfield from Bay Fm said it was “the best local festival ever”!

Event snapshot:

- 3 days
- 11 venues
- 12 separate live music programs
- Byron's FIRST Music Industry Conference
- 70+ local artists
- 21 industry speakers

- Multiple SOLD-OUT events, including the main event

- Over 8,000 patrons throughout the weekend
- 300+ crew and volunteers
- 32 local businesses supporting
- 46 local vendors on site

- Carbon Neutral Event

- Zero incidents and commendation from Police on a well-run event

Super Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for an extra low price of $30 (+BF) via www.byronmusicfestival.com.au

There are also extra high value partnership opportunities available for the next two months only.

Businesses interested in partnering or investing in Byron Music Festival 2022 can take advantage of a generous added value partnership package, which equates to a complete tier upgrade when they commit by 31 August 2021.

For enquiries call Byron Music on 02 6685 7333 or email nick@byronmusicfestival.com.au

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BMF LINEUP

Boasting a 100% Byron and North Coast line-up, the inaugural Byron Music Festival (BMF) artist announcement is here!

WOLFMOTHER

HAYLEY MARY

KYLE LIONHART

THE SIDEMEN

TIJUANA CARTEL

BOBBY ALU

DROP LEGS

WHARVES

THE OOGARS

MYLEE GRACE

THE BUCKLEYS

FAMILY JORDAN

NARLI

KIMMY

NIDALA

SOPHIE OZARD

REMEDI

Plus more to be announced

BMF Programming Manager Alain De Carne said “We're so proud to be showcasing local music at Byron Music Festival. We really wanted to celebrate the diversity of the Northern Rivers music scene by featuring renowned and emerging artists that cross all genres and styles - from rock, to hip hop and everything in between”.

The goal for organisers is to spark the resurgence in the local live entertainment scene, showcasing a line-up of local iconic and emerging artists, as well as hosting a robust music industry conference program that ignites a public conversation about the importance, power, and positivity of music for all.

Conceptualised and produced by Byron Music Proprietor and passionate local Nick Sergi, BMF has a prodigious ambition for these uncertain times but organisers have experienced enthusiastic support not just from artists and industry but a wide variety businesses and community members who see this is as a fabulous opportunity for the Northern Rivers.

Peter Wood, Executive Director of Arts Northern Rivers said “Arts Northern Rivers is more than thrilled to be supporting the Byron Music Festival. With the music sector particularly impacted by the COVID19 health crisis, projects like these are an essential part of the creative recovery process supporting our musicians and rebuilding audiences - make sure you get along to it to show your support”.

BMF artist Steve Banks from The Sidemen enthused “As a performer, the BMF is just about the perfect platform for what we do. Steve Banks and the Sidemen are dedicated to bringing quality live performance to this region particularly.

Nick and his team at BMF have a vision: in my opinion, it is about promoting local talent (of which there’s an abundance) and bringing in well-known and respected acts to a very music savvy and appreciative community. The cross-pollination in terms of talent and experience is invaluable.

It is an ambitious project in these troubled times but I feel there’s a tangible light at the end of the tunnel. I commend BMF’s courage and creativity and its commitment to keeping live music alive. I cannot countenance the alternative”.

From 18-20 June, the Byron Bay CBD will come alive with multiple live music performances, a youth music showcase, local business activations, markets, and a music industry conference and speaking program.

BMF is working with charities Support Act, Byron Youth Services and Be Happy Music Club.

Events will be held at Denning Park, Byron Youth Centre, The Beach Hotel, Byron Theatre, and The Great Northern Hotel.

Each event ranges from free entry to modest ticket prices.

Tickets are on sale now through the website www.byronmusicfestival.com.au

BMF is presented by Byron Music Productions and proudly supported by Byron Music, Arts Northern Rivers, NSW Government, Create NSW, Byron Bay Brewery, The Beach Hotel, McGrath Real Estate, Lifecykel, Roland, Byron Bay Accom, SAE, Husk Distillers, Scenstr, Bay Fm, Byronbay.com, Destination Byron, Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce and more to be announced.

For partnership and general enquiries contact monique@byronmusicfestival.com.au or visit www.byronmusicfestival.com.au

For media enquiries contact amelia.banks12@gmail.com

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April 2021

The famous Byron Bay music scene is set to make a comeback this June thanks to the brand-new Byron Music Festival (BMF).

The goal for organisers is to spark the resurgence in the local live entertainment scene, showcasing a 100% local line up of iconic and emerging artists, as well as hosting a robust music industry conference program that ignites a public conversation about the importance, power, and positivity of music for all.

Festival Director and proprietor of Byron Music, Nick Sergi says the mission of BMF is two-fold, “We want to bring the idea of a Byron music festival back into Byron itself,” he said,

“I have been determined to make the event as accessible to as many in the community as possible, through location, ticket pricing, and programming. It’s something that will attract visitors, yes, but it’s hopefully an event the local community can enjoy and share together.

“We’ve purposely chosen to hold the event in winter to inject activity into the CBD during a historically insecure time for local business. This event will not only support local creatives, but local businesses as well”.

Operations Manager Monique Hartman says the team have been working closely with senior staff in Service NSW to ensure a solid COVID safe plan along with contingencies to give the event its best chance of success.

“This is a crucial time for music and the live events industries … it’s been the toughest year in the industry’s history,” she said.

We need to ensure the survival of the industry in the best interest of our community, so we’ve decided to open up the conversation usually held behind closed doors and invite the community in to be part of it.

It’s a new discourse between artists, industry, and audiences that hasn’t quite been done before. It’s an exciting mix of education, collaboration, and celebration”.

Byron Music Festival will showcase the rich creative talent of the region whilst illuminating the region as a hub for innovation and a place you can do serious business.

“It is a unique region where business and creativity can live side by side with incredible outcomes,” says Nick.

“It’s a celebration of the uniqueness of our region”.

BMF runs from Friday 18 June – Sunday 20 June and is working with charities Support Act, Byron Youth Services and Be Happy Music Club.

Events will be held at Denning Park, Byron Youth Centre, The Beach Hotel, Byron Theatre, and The Great Northern Hotel.

Each event ranges from free entry to modest ticket prices.

For more info visit www.byronmusicfestival.com.au

The BMF artist line-up will be announced Tuesday 20 April.

BMF is presented by Byron Music Productions and proudly supported by Byron Music, Arts Northern Rivers, NSW Government, Create NSW, and Byron Bay Brewery.