The Lion Arts Centre in Adelaide's West End at night. The venue has hosted live music since 1986.
Music of Adelaide includes music relating to the city of Adelaide, South Australia. It includes all genres of both live and recorded music by artists born or living in the city, live music events happening in the city, and other aspects of the music industry relating to Adelaide.
Adelaide is a UNESCO City of Music. It enjoys several annual music festivals and awards, and possibly has more live music venues per capita than any other capital city in the southern hemisphere. Organisations such as Music SA and the Music Development Office, backed by the state government, help to nurture the live music industry and the careers of emerging artists.
As a result of Elbourne's report, the Music Development Office and adjunct St Paul's Creative Centre was created by the state government (then under Arts SA, now Dept of Innovation & Skills) in 2014, with the goal of "build[ing] pathways into creative and industry development, with city vibrancy and economic benefit being the ultimate outcomes", which it does by facilitating grants, fellowships and other means of developing the careers of contemporary musicians.[4][5][6]
A new independent body called Musitec and an advisory body known as the Music Industry Council were also established.[7][8][9][10]
City of Music
Adelaide was awarded a UNESCO City of Music title from the United Nations in late 2015, after an application driven by the Festival Centre, the Music Development Office and Adelaide City Council. It was the 19th city to gain the status.[11][12][13]
In 2015, it was said that there were more live music venues per capita in Adelaide than any other capital city in the southern hemisphere,[14][15] and Lonely Planet labelled Adelaide “Australia’s live music city”.[16]
2017–2020: Live Music Action Plan
In 2017 the City of Adelaide produced a report entitled Adelaide: City of Music: Live Music Action Plan 2017−2020, after holding its first Live Music Summit to coincide with a visit by other global UNESCO Cities of Music on 8 March 2017. The report outlined the council's strategic plan and role in sustaining live music in the city.[17]
Music SA is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1997 to promote, support and develop contemporary music in South Australia, which it does by providing training at many levels, professional development advice and live performance opportunities.[18] Among its other activities, it has run the annual Umbrella: Winter City Sounds event since 2016, growing each year. Described as "a grass roots organic creation that is made up of local venues and mainly local performers", it offered over 350 live events in 2018. In association with the biennial Adelaide Guitar Festival, it presents "Guitars in Bars" each year, as part of Umbrella.[19][20][21]
The front of Bonython Hall and the Adelaide Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide.
Music education starts in primary and secondary public and private schools across the state. A number of public schools (19 as of 2019[update] have been designated "music focus schools" by an Education Department program called Instrumental Music (IM). Some of these are the APY Lands schools, Marryatville High School, Open Access College and Whyalla High School.[26]
As well as those mentioned above (Music SA, Music Development Office, etc.) there are other organisations based in Adelaide which focus on various aspects of the music industry.
SCALA (Songwriters, Composers, and Lyricists Association) is a non-profit, incorporated association, founded in November 1987 in Adelaide. Its goal is to support and encourage songwriters, composers, and lyricists in any style and genre, regardless of their level of skill and experience.[28] It runs a venue for original music, workshops, the annual FOOM (Festival of Original Music) Song Competition, and regularly releases albums of original music[29] (the 23rd such CD being released in 2015[30]). SCALA also hosts special events, often at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in the inner western suburb of Thebarton, such as "Showcasing Aboriginal Artists" in June 2019.[31]
Music SA presents the annual South Australian Music Awards (SAM Awards), which replaced the Fowler's Live Awards from 2015, with support from the Music Development Office, APRA AMCOS and other sponsors.[33][34] The 2019 Awards are to be held at the Bonython Hall in November.[35]
SCALA presents the annual FOOM (Festival of Original Music) Song Competition, with the finals awards event held in September at the Wheatsheaf Hotel.[36][37]
Adelaide has produced a number of popular bands and musicians, including Australian hip-hop crew Hilltop Hoods, pub-rock act Cold Chisel (and soloist Jimmy Barnes), and Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian.
^"Contemporary Music Grant Program: FAQs". Government of South Australia. Dept for Innovation and Skills. Retrieved 3 September 2019. This program is delivered by the Music Development Office (MDO).
^"About". Music Development Office. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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