Get in tune with the best of Adelaide this April with a music–focused edition of What’s On, showcasing the city’s musical brilliance. (Image: dotigabrielf)
By Sophia Lattas | @SophiaLattas
“Adelaideans” have an affinity for local arts and culture. This was made evident by the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s record-breaking run which sold more than 1 million tickets this year — a 3.9 per cent increase from 2023.
However, according to the recent Musicians Australia Report, Adelaide’s live music scene has been in crisis since the pandemic.
The findings revealed 49 per cent of the musicians surveyed earned less than $6,000 during the 2023 financial year — just 15 per cent of the national minimum wage.
MEAA Campaigns Director Paul Davies said musicians were doing it extremely tough.
“[Musicians] are expected to get by on extraordinarily low incomes, inconsistent and often unpaid work and they rarely receive superannuation, which is a right for all workers,” Davies said.
Adelaide has a rich music culture and is the birthplace of some of Australia’s best music imports.
With its buzzing live music scene the city is deserving of the title as the nation’s first and only “City of Music”.
Support local artists, musicians and venues this month — and every month — with On The Record’s comprehensive list of what’s on.
Music
The City of Adelaide and MusicSA are running a four-day music festival, Ruck & Roll, that will coincide with the AFL’s Gather Round to expose locals and visitors alike to South Australia’s musical brilliance.
Catch 60 performances from April 4 to 7 throughout Adelaide’s streets and venues scheduled around each AFL match.
In 2023, Gather Round generated more than 150,000 tourists.
MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe thinks this is a golden opportunity to showcase Adelaide’s music scene.
“Live artists and live music add yet another layer of vibrancy and colour for the thousands of visitors and sports fans that will be passing through Adelaide over those four days,” Schloithe said.
Adelaide’s iconic sexuality and gender diverse venue Marys Poppin is celebrating their eighth birthday with “SHE 8 THAT” on Friday April 5.
They are going for a “Candy Land” fantasy theme with candy cocktail specials, DJs on decks till dawn and shows featuring Marys Divas alongside extra special guest Sydney drag icon Vanity.
This year Record Store Day (RSD) falls on April 20.
The annual event started in 2007 as a way to celebrate local, independently owned record stores.
Special CD and vinyl releases are released exclusively for the day: a treasure hunt for collectors and fans alike.
You can plan your purchases with the current RSD Australian titles list which is updated regularly with new titles as they are confirmed — not all stores will stock every release.
There are eight participating stores across South Australia — find your local here.
Adelaide Jazz Festival promises a broad range of live jazz performances from April 26 in the lead-up to International Jazz Day on April 30.
Adelaide drummer and percussionist Alexander Flood brings experimental sounds that draw from nu-jazz, deep house, broken beat, drum and bass and UK Garage to The Lab on April 27.
Local musician Kara Manansala will also make an appearance with the promise of euphoric vocals and powerful drums to delight and inspire.
Festivals/markets
The entire AFL is flocking to SA for Gather Round’s second year which promises an action–packed weekend: enjoy the Festival of Footy with events across the state.
The footy–filled weekend kicks off on April 4 with Maccas’ Footy Festival in Elder Park where fans can catch their favourite players and live entertainment for free until April 7.
The Hahndorf Footy Festival Gather in the Hills coincides with the two games to be hosted in Mount Barker on April 6 and 7.
Indie rock band The Jungle Giants and electronic music duo The Presets are set to perform pre-match shows at Adelaide Oval.
If footy isn’t your thing you can indulge in Norwood’s Food and Wine Festival on April 7 — there is something for everyone.
The pre-loved clothing market geared towards sustainable fashion-forward lovers XChange Marketplace returns to Stepney on April 14.
Founded by Lottie Goodwin, owner of personally curated vintage store Casper and Willow, XChange aims to keep consumption circular with its 150 racks lined with 70s, 80s, 90s and Y2K pre-loved clothing.
Film/Visual Art
The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) continues its First Fridays on the first Friday of every month for after-hours art and entertainment.
This month AGSA presents Here and Now: an evening of mindfulness, music and performance set among the 18th Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Inner Sanctum.
The curated program of live music, talks and tours is ever-changing. First Fridays are free, however fees may apply for some exhibitions and workshops.
Talks/Workshops
Slow Fashion Movement (SFM) aims to educate and empower fashion consumers for a sustainable future with their line-up of April events that includes an educational workshop, Instagram Live conversations and panel discussions.
SFM’s five-week online book club on Wear Next by Clare Press will also start on Monday April 8.
Press offers “a crystal-ball look into tomorrow’s wardrobe: conscious, fair, slow, upcycled, biointelligent [and] digital”.
The fashion industry is undergoing some radical reimagining as our throwaway society is simply not sustainable.
According to the Australian Fashion Council, Australia was the second highest consumer of textiles per person in the world in 2022 behind the United States, with each Australian discarding an average of 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill every year.
Through their educational workshops, SFM aims to help consumers achieve a slow fashion lifestyle.
Thank you for reading On The Record’s April edition of What’s On. Stay tuned for May’s edition.