Live music venues facing rising costs and falling revenues across regional and metropolitan NSW are receiving support for stage, sound, planning and cost-saving upgrades.
The latest $3.8 million round of Sound NSW Venue Upgrade Grants will support 33 venues across the state, from Bathurst and Bega to Newtown and Cronulla.
Funding will support projects including soundproofing, upgraded audio-visual equipment, planning advice, staging and energy-efficiency improvements.
The 2025–26 program also introduced a new Advanced Screen and Lighting Technology stream, supporting venues to invest in LED displays, projection systems, advanced lighting and other audiovisual technology designed to improve audience experiences.
Recipients include:
- The Brass Monkey, Cronulla – $121,096 for stage, speaker, backline instrument, ventilation and soundproofing upgrades.
- The Press Basement Bar, Tamworth – $68,022 for live music programming and equipment upgrades.
- The Lansdowne, Chippendale – $150,000 for energy-efficiency works including solar panels and battery installation.
- Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour – $150,000 for upgrades to its sound system, monitors, mixer and lighting.
- King St Hotel, Newcastle – $500,000 for an LED video display, new lighting system and video cameras.
The Venue Upgrade Grants program is designed to increase the number of fit-for-purpose live music venues across NSW, improve audience experiences and strengthen the capacity of venues to host contemporary live music.
The latest funding follows previous rounds of support for venue soundproofing, ventilation, accessibility, energy efficiency and production equipment.
The NSW Government says the grants form part of broader measures aimed at supporting the state’s live music and night-time economy as venues continue to face rising operating costs.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said the funding would help venues make upgrades that can be difficult to afford in the current operating environment.
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