Australian band San Cisco, and their label and management, will seek compensation from the Queensland Government for losses incurred due to the closure of Sunshine Coast venue NightQuarter at the weekend.
On Friday (11 June), Queensland Health served NightQuarter, located in Birtinya, a closure notice less than 24 hours prior to San Cisco's scheduled, sold-out concert (12 June) at the venue.The closure notice (which has since been revoked by Queensland Health) related to a complaint received about concerts staged the previous weekend (4-5 June), and NightQuarter were given no right of reply or opportunity to enforce stronger COVID restrictions.
With an expected gross revenue of $60,000 expected from the concert, the band are now facing the prospect of losing money on their current national tour, which has already seen multiple postponements due to COVID.
San Cisco, Select Music and their management will contest that if San Cisco had been given more notice, a new venue could have being arranged, and their touring party could have saved on related transport and accommodation costs.
"As an independent band, like many others, San Cisco rely on live music as their primary source of income," said Philip Stevens, from San Cisco's management.
"Not only did San Cisco miss out, but so did Brisbane artist Jaguar Jonze, who is supporting all shows on this tour. The loss of the NightQuarter show will mean the band will lose money on this tour.
"The tour, in support of their album release for 'Between You And Me', has already been moved many times."
A more general complaint the band and management is raising are the double standards the arts are facing from governments during the COVID crisis. "The behaviour of patrons at the NightQuarter is no different to that experienced at sporting events around the state in the very same week," Stevens added.
"As of this point in time no cases of COVID have been attributed to gatherings of people at music concerts throughout Australia.
"So why are venues and concerts still being targeted by State governments as dangerous activities in comparison to major sporting events that are occurring every week?
"The arts industry is suffering, especially the hundreds of musicians who have no clear pathway forwards for their careers."
San Cisco lead singer Jordi Davieson had this to say: "It was really disappointing to hear last minute that our concert at the NightQuarter was to be cancelled.
"We knew that our fans from the Sunshine Coast had made this our biggest show of the tour. We had already had to cancel once already, so it was upsetting to have to let our fans down again."
San Cisco will be requesting compensation for direct losses as well as potential losses due to the concert not being able to go ahead, and no known date yet being made available for a replacement concert.
San Cisco's booking agent, Stephen Wade added: "As the agent for San Cisco, I will be supporting the band and fighting to get a resolution to the overreaction from QLD Health in enforcing a shut down within 24 hours at NightQuarter on the weekend.
"The live music industry has endured more than most during this pandemic and is still not back to 100 per cent 16 months after COVID closed our industry down.
"The weekend's actions have to stop and the over policing of live music events needs to be addressed immediately.
"We are still yet to see any documentation from QLD Health or any health department in Australia giving us an explanation as to why our events are deemed so dangerous to the health of the general public, and all we are asking for is a fair go, bearing in mind that there has still not been a single transmission of COVID-19 at a ticketed live music event in Australia EVER."
The 'Between You And Me' tour resumes next Thursday 17 June at The Gov in Adelaide, Friday 18 June at The Refectory in Caneberra, Saturday 19 June at NEX in Newcastle, Friday July 2 in Hobart at The Goods Shed, Friday 16 July in their home town of Fremantle at the Freo.Social and Saturday 17 July at The Rechabite in Perth.
The re-scheduled Victorian shows kick off with two shows on Thursday 22 July at the Forum Theatre, Friday 23 July at the Barwon Heads Hotel, Saturday 24 July at Torquay Hotel and Sunday 25 July at the Pier Hotel in Frankston.
