Help The Tote survive.
The Tote has launched a new GoFundMe campaign to help keep the venue alive. The beloved Melbourne live music venue has been brought to its knees as the current pandemic rips through the music industry and is now asking for public support.
The Collingwood venue is the heart and soul of Melbourne music and has been part of the city’s cultural fabric for nearly 40 years. The venue has been knocked down numerous times but has always gotten back up to the benefit of music lovers the world over – six days a week; 50 bands a week; three different bandrooms; rock, punk, garage, psychedelic, hip hop, pop, metal, jazz, blues, folk, you name it.
Think of Liverpool’s Cavern Club, New Orleans’ Preservation Hall and Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry; Melbourne’s The Tote is right up there in its cultural significance and importance.
“We want to return to being Australia’s most-loved live music venue,” The Tote co-owner Jon Perring says. “We want to continue being the home of the original diverse voices of the Australian contemporary live music scene and play our part in the future of Australian and international music culture. We want to continue to be proud of what we are but we can’t do it alone whilst we are on our knees.”
Despite receiving some government assistance, their bank account is running dry. JobKeeper is propping them up for now but soon enough, the funds will run out and The Tote will have nowhere to go.
Help The Tote stay alive by donating to their GoFundMe campaign here.
Read our story on why NSW is currently taking Victoria to school with its support of live music and nightlife culture.
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