MEDIA RELEASE: FRIDAY 24/9/2004
PONYLOAF PRESENTS ‘QUIET RIOT’
WHAT
Come On Feel The Noise???
On Thursday October 28 2004, patrons of RIC’S BAR will be asked to don headphones and disengage from their surroundings when PONYLOAF present QUIET RIOT, a hi-tech music performance, audio installation and silent protest against noise restrictions imposed on seminal Fortitude Valley music venue RICS BAR.
Audiences are invited to listen to live performances by bringing their own portable radios into the vicinity of RICS BAR and tuning into a short range FM radio transmitter. FM radio headsets will also be available within the venue. No amplification at all will be used at the QUIET RIOT event.
QUIET RIOT is designed to increase awareness of a petition that supports RICS’ application to the Liquor Licensing Division to have the venue’s noise limit increased to a level that recognises the Valley’s live music agenda.
Damian of local electronic rock trio PONYLOAF comments, ‘RICS is a venue that has been supporting emerging artists and live music for a decade. ‘Due to the council and state government’s dubious entertainment policy for the Valley it’s now sometimes difficult to even hear the music in RICS, much less enjoy it at an ideal volume.’
The event will be the audio equivalent of wearing blinkers. An irony not lost on the management of RICS BAR, having recently been ordered to drastically scale back their live music activities or risk losing their liquor license. The Valley’s ‘LOUD AND PROUD’ tag seemingly doesn’t apply to live music venues.
QUIET RIOT provides a glimpse of the future should the local council and the state government’s current entertainment policy for the Valley prevail
Proposed amendments to the Queensland Liqor Act 2002 being championed by Deputy Mayor and local member for the Valley, Cr David Hinchliffe, are supportive of RICs’ cause. These include rezoning to allow for ‘Special Entertainment Precincts’ (SEPs) in the Valley.
These amendments may allow RICS BAR to resume its normal live music activities. However, even if successful these changes can not realistically be expected to change the situation until 2005.
This event will be a descriptive statement on the reality of live music’s critical condition in the Valley. It will aim to illustrate the issue in an innovative and peaceful way and encourage people to provide more support to RICS BAR and the current situation regarding live music in the Valley.
‘With the FM transmitter you can at least receive a strong stereo signal. This is not however a long term solution to the problem. This is about illustrating the harsh reality of live music’s demise in what used to be Brisbane’s cultural hub.’
The event organisers are currently seeking sponsorship for the event.
QUIET RIOT occurs Thursday October 28 from 7pm.
PONYLOAF perform every Thursday in October from 7pm.
Event contact: Damian Lewis
damian@ponyloaf.com.au
0401 840 100