You can't stop the music!

Live music is back. COVID precautions may have changed the way we get to enjoy our pubs and clubs, but venues are once again bringing back the music.

To kick things off leading into summer, the NSW Government and the Australian Recording Industry Association have partnered to help fund 1,000 gigs across the state to showcase established and emerging local artists. The initiative, Great Southern Nights, will culminate with the ARIA Awards on 25 November.

Over the next four weekends, venues around Orange the Central West will be hosting local and visiting performers for COVID-safe gigs under the Great Southern Nights banner and there is bound to be something for everybody.

For local country performer Justin Landers, the easing of restrictions and the return of live music couldn’t come soon enough.

“I had about three months off. I was doing online shows, just to keep the practice up, but the first gig wasn't back until September. They are starting to come back now and it is sit down audiences only across the venues that are doing it— but it is a lot of fun and just good to be back doing it again,” said Justin.

Not that it was easy to get back on stage after some time off.

“It was a little bit nerve-racking actually, I normally get a little bit nervous before a show, but after having that big break and then coming back again,” he laughed.

“But it was actually good to feel that that way. You know you really love doing what you when you feel like that, that it is important to do it right.”

Justin has booked two country music line-ups at the Orange City Bowling Club on the 21st and 28th of November, making up for the cancelled Country Radio Stars showcase that was planned for August.

COVID restrictions mean physical distancing must be practiced and numbers strictly limited. It unfortunately also rules out dancing, but Justin said it hasn’t stopped punters getting into the music while keeping still their seats.

“Parkes Services Club, they get it going over there with their hands in the air and the whole thing!” he said.

“So, it is a bit of fun, even though they can't dance it is good for people to be able to get out again… Most people who I've spoken to are very excited by it all and they are just glad gigs are coming back.

The Agrestic Grocer has been a strong supporter of live, local music over the years and now with the weather warming, they are looking to get more weekend gigs on the calendar.

“We've had a few of the weekend performances, just on the Saturday/Sunday lunchtime. We are slowly easing back into that with some of the outdoor restrictions now being a 2 square metre rule,” said owner Beau Baddock.

The Agrestic Grocer is hosting two Great Southern Night Gigs; Beau using them as a way to say thank you to people who have supported them over what’s been a tough year.

“But now with the weather warming up a bit, hopefully we can start to get a few more performances happening on the weekends. Get some people out strumming guitars and get that lunchtime crowd again and get the live music vibe happening again.”

Over the next four weekends, you will find Great Southern Nights gigs at the Orange Bowling Club, Orange Ex-Services Club, The Blind Pig, Heifer Station, Orange Civic Centre, and in other nearby centres.

You can find a gig near you by visiting greatsouthernnights.com.au