Ricky Neil has always been a believer in the power of music.
Growing up in Albany, his main exposure and fundamental connection to music was largely the concert films he would binge on VHS or YouTube with his first actual concert coming a lot later.
“My first concert was when I was 16 and I watched Violent Soho at Red Hill Auditorium and for me that was an amazing event, and I was so obsessed with it immediately.”
Moving to Perth after high school, Ricky Neil found himself drawn to live gigs at places like Indi Bar in Scarborough and The Bird in Northbridge.
He was astounded by how great the sound was in these places, and it wasn’t long before he was playing the same venues.
Ricky Neil is the lead singer of the self-titled, Ricky Neil Jr., a band that played recently at sold out Hyperfest on March 29, an all-ages music festival that had staples like San Cisco headlining.
Only forming within the last two years, Ricky Neil Jr. have been able to play similar festivals like Nannup Music Festival and the Leavers Zone in Dunsborough.
A claim that many bands, especially new ones, couldn’t make for themselves.
“I think it’s a shame we are in a period at the moment where there’s not a lot of festivals going on and not a lot of festivals surviving the current economic crisis but [Hyperfest] was a great time.”
The hustle is real
Between dwindling festivals and no support from streaming, many musicians like Ricky Neil are feeling the crunch even further when organising his own concerts.
“People are not buying tickets early. They’re arriving on the night and buying then.
“It’s a problem within the industry as a whole and it’s the reason why so many festivals are being shut down because people are not buying, they’re expecting to get them later and the festival ‘goes well we’re not making money […] we have to cut loose.’”
Audience members are leaving it too late to purchase tickets to the event, therefore making the organisers unfortunately cancel it, as they haven’t made enough initial sales to support the actual festival.
Ricky Neil had a similar occurrence where about 15 pre-sale tickets were sold for a single launch.
They then sold the venue, which has a capacity of almost 200, almost solely from door sales and people buying on the night.
Some of the events haven’t made a financial return and has forced Ricky Neil to invest in gigs himself occasionally.
“You really wouldn’t do it if you didn’t love it […] Definitely rocks you in the wallet at times.”
Ricky Neil
Keeping it local, open to all
Owen Whittle, the CEO of WAM (West Australian Music), believes that though festivals have been declining overall, many local festivals have been finding success through promoting largely WA led lineups.
“But what we have seen are the festivals that promote and profile almost exclusive local acts… [they] have bucked that trend [of being cancelled], survived and have actually done quite well,” Mr Whittle said.
“You look at Nannup music festival, Bridgetown, Boyup Brook, they all have very strong development focuses and pathways that I think their audiences act really well to that.”
Having a festival with largely WA acts and a more community focused approach is what appeals to many audiences like those going to Nannup Music Festival, Blues at Bridgetown and Meliora Festival near Donnybrook.
Mr Whittle said all-ages festivals are another reason why some events like Hyperfest are doing well.
“[It’s a] great example of building the next generation of audiences for live music with that investment into all-ages festivals.
“Hyper, and more investment in all ages festivals, make sure we capture that next generation of local music fans.”
Buying tickets pre-emptively to concerts and festivals allows organisers to prepare for the event so musicians like Ricky Neil can entertain music fans and inspire the next wave of musicians.
