Wollongong City Council has appointed 10 independent community members to the Live Music Task Force. The LTF will review the policies and procedures in place to encourage and promote live music in the city.
The Live Music Task Force will be made up of the following people:
• Ben Tillman, owner/director of Yours and Owls café
• Carlie Carroll, operations Manager at Oscars Hotel
• Jessie Hunt, Live Music advocate
• Phil Slater, musician, and tertiary educator
• Jeb Taylor, booking agent, promoter and operator of Music Farmers
• Michelle Hanley, musician and organisation of one day festivals
• Shaun Prince, former advisor to Lord Mayor Alex Darling
• Neil Roswell, Musician and Operations Manager Illawarra Folk Festival
• Simon Leamon, production manager and creative director
• Peter Langstaff, musician and community radio presenter
These people will join Councillor Ann Martin, Chairperson, Councillor Vicki Curran, Councillor John Dorahy, Councillor Bede Crasnich and Councillor Leigh Colacino.The Taskforce will also be additionally supported by external consultant, John Wardle, who is currently the live music consultant to the City of Sydney and was also recently appointed as a member of National Live Music Office. Observer roles have also been offered to Alex Masso from Music Council of Australia and Dr Ianto Ware, the National Live Music Coordinator.
The man behind the push for the establishment of the Wollongong Live Music Taskforce, Dr Robert Carr commented on the new taskforce this week, saying: “This brings the Wollongong Taskforce strategically into line with State and national efforts. It is great to see the number of musicians taking part. Many like Jeb Taylor and Peter Langstaff have been there right from the start when live music advocacy really began as a concerted effort in the late 1990s. Council is now getting on board with what’s been happening and needed for a long time as far as policy and cultural development goes.
Wollongong City Council Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said: “This is a taskforce which will provide advice and collect information for Council. They will provide recommendations on the best way to encourage and promote live music for a vibrant night time in the city.”
