MUSIC venues such as The Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta have shared in State Government funding to attract musical talent to the area.
The funding includes support for Wangaratta-based artist MOZE, to produce songs with emerging artists in Wangaratta and Brunswick, including the writing, recording and production of each song.
The government's $3.9 million '10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund' will fund 144 venues across the state to stage paid gigs by local artists - giving venues a leg up and emerging artists the chance to perform live.
The Vine Hotel proprietor Jimmy Ladgrove was a recipient of a $10,000 grant under the initiative and Victorian Minister for Creative Industry, Colin Brooks, visited the venue last week to hear how the gigs have been going.
"We received $10,000 to put on 20 gigs over the year and all the money will go direct to the performers," Mr Ladgrove said.
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"It helps in that we can put on a few free shows as well because the cost of living can turn people away and young families can't afford to wine and dine as much.
"They still want to go to entertainment but it adds up and we can do some complementary shows, and it subsidises as well so that definitely helps.
"We try to do all genres and we have a lot of loyal supporters who come to almost all the shows, and artists come from across Melbourne, across Victoria and locals like Pete Denahy."
Mr Ladgrove said the majority of their shows sell out and the demand is definitely there, it's well supported, with a great atmosphere and good feedback.
He said the gigs attract people from all over the state and around Albury.
Even after Covid, there is not a shortage of bands, and he said it's about picking the right ones and the jazz was a great success this year.
Minister Brooks said The Vine is an icon in Wangaratta and his trip to the venue was to meet the crew and learn more about how they have engaged local music and worked with some of the local performers.
"In Victoria we're really proud to be known as the live music capital of the nation and right across the state we've had this culture of enjoying live music and people using that as a springboard to go onto bigger and better things," he said.
"Venues like The Vine give people a platform to start out their careers, build an audience and a following and it's really important to have these venues as institutions for live music, regardless of the genre of music, it's really critical.
"We have a really strong focus on pushing these grants to the outer suburbs and regional Victoria, not just the really well-known venues in the inner city of Melbourne."
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, which took over 13 venues in Wangaratta and the region over cup weekend, was also the beneficiary of the Live Music Festivals Fund and Visit Victoria's Regional Events Fund.
