Overseas gigs to help stars

WITH no major gigs at home, an exodus of fully vaccinated Australian artists with international touring and festival opportunities will leave the country to finally start playing again after losing 90 per cent of their income because of lockdowns.

Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Tim Minchin and Middle Kids are among the first artists who won’t have to cancel their American and European gig bookings, thanks to a new export stimulus program. Sounds Australia executive producer Millie Milgate proposed the $1.2m initiative as the American, UK and European summer touring season opened up while our stages remain empty.

The latest ilostmygig survey found more than 28,000 gigs, worth $84m, have been cancelled since July 1 and more than 35 per cent of arts workers were looking for work overseas. Milgate calculated about 17 Australian acts seeking to go overseas within the next few months would generate $90m worth of festival performance fees and concert ticket sales.