THE Albanese government has thrown Freo.Social a lifelife, awarding a $150,000 grant to the live music venue for sound insulation — a move that comes after a dispute with neighbouring Garde Hotel.
The funds come via the federal Revive Live program and will go towards installing acoustic roof panels, insulation in the Drill Hall’s domed ceiling, acoustic drapes, and more rigorous noise monitoring.
The announcement marks a turning point in a saga that threatened Freo.Social’s future.
“Freo.Social has been on the backfoot since this saga began and there was a lot of community concern,” federal Labor MP Josh Wilson said.
“Now, we can plan for the long-term future of this music mecca
“We can now build on this incredible story and Freo.Social can start a new, better chapter… with real funding that supports real and positive change.”
• James Legge (left) and Josh Wilson (centre) with a bunch of musos hoping to get Freo.Social pumping.
Freo.Social director James Legge says the funding is a lifeline.
“Well, it protects the future of Freo.Social. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
He added that while the Garde Hotel is “a great concept”, it must “coexist with what’s already here.”
“We’ve been in active dialogue with the Garde Hotel over the last 12 months, and my ambition was always to have a cooperation agreement with them, putting aside all the legalities of noise levels and acoustic works, I wanted to get to a position of ‘let’s agree on how we can coexist.
“By and large, we’ve had one or two nights where there was a small problem, but there’s been communication.”
“We’ve rectified things at our end and made adjustments.
Mr Legge says it’s not as simple as turning down the volume knob, but they’ve taken sub-woofers off the floor to minimise shaking and focussed on frequencies that seem to have the most impact.
“We’ve adjusted them down without impacting the overall quality of the music; that apparently had a significant impact, but the bands and the artists and the patrons can’t tell the difference – it’s still a superb sound.”
According to their noise consultants, the acoustic upgrades will make a “significant impact” on the amount of sound escaping.
Beyond the technical work, Legge says the community response to the venue’s challenges has been deeply moving. “I was really humbled by the massive reaction from the community, both the artist community and the general Fremantle community, and their love for the venue and desire for the venue to keep doing what it’s doing.
“That really gave me and everyone at Freo.Social the energy to fight for the survival of the venue.
He said without the federal grant, Freo.Social would have kept “shaking the tins” at other government agencies for help.
Mr Legge stressed that grants like Live Revive are “absolutely critical” for grassroots music venues, especially in tough economic times: “cost of living pressures, reduction in alcohol consumption, increasing costs, it all has had a dramatic impact.
“Venues are shutting left, right and centre.
“Grants … allow the industry to undertake critical infrastructure works … really keeps their head above water.”
He also pointed to other innovation the industry is looking at: it’s not just about gigs anymore. “Diversify your income,” he said.
At Freo.Social, they’re already branching out — bingo nights (in the form of Bingo Loco), while other venues are trying fashion shoots, line dancing — “you’ve got to think laterally … how can [the venue] be used for other purposes.”
by STEVE GRANT