Last push to save venues

BACK TO THE GARDEN: Local band Subset BC who have brought their original sound accompanied by psychedelic visuals are one of many acts to have performed at both the Dome Bar and at Smash Palace. In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis both venues need your help so they can continue to host live performances. Picture supplied

The national, pay-it-forward fundraising strategy run by Boosted Live’s Save Our Venues NZ group has helped Gisborne live music venues the Dome Bar and Smash Palace reach their target goals.

The Covid-19 response has threatened the future of many venues around New Zealand, but a dedicated committee that includes musicians Reb Fountain, Matthew Crawley (Golden Dawn/Strange News), Lucy Macrae & Tom Anderson (Whammy Bar), Rohan Evans (The Wine Cellar) and Reuben Bonner (Banished Music) aims to generate support for small live music venues across the country, in cities and towns.

The Dome Bar and Smash Palace are Gisborne’s two main live music venues whose chances of survival post-lockdown have been given a boost through the initiative.

The venues are a little short of their stretch targets of $20,000 that will help ensure their survival.

But with your help, both will reach their targets before the deadline, 10 days away.

By this morning, the Dome was short of its target by little more than $3700 while Smash needs a $8840 boost to get it over the line.

“We were staggered with the generosity and quick action that everyone has taken to help towards the survival of the Dome,” said owner Sally Shanks on the Dome’s Save Our Venues page.

“The amount we have already raised will be enormously helpful in paying the awaiting bills, but by raising our goal — to what we had hoped to achieve, but never thought possible till now — we will be able to form a buffer to help us through the coming months until life can get back to normal.”

Also grateful for people’s support, Smash’s staff were “blown away by your generosity and kind words”, said the venue’s co-owner Daryl Monteith on Smash’s page.

“Please continue to share the posts and the love so we can reach this stretch goal and start off again on a firm footing. We really need the boost and can’t wait to have Smash Palace open and pumping again for you soon.”

More than just businesses, the two venues are community hubs, live music platforms for artists such as Smash-hosted acts as Head Like A Hole, The Schizophonics, The D4, Ladi6, and Jordan Luck Band as well as local talent.

To make a donation, and to help ensure live acts continue to grow and perform at the Dome Bar and Smash Palace, go to www.boosted.org.nz/profile/5eaf4a9eda 204c002348bacb or bit.ly/2X01VZ1, scroll down the page for the “we love the Dome” and “we love Smash” icons, then scroll down each of those pages to the red “donate” button.