00:04For local Darwin punk rock group Tang, the chance to support major acts can be game-changing.
00:10We got to play Bass in the Grass this year alongside The Living End and In Heart's Wake
00:15and that was a fantastic experience to just be able to say, hey, we're a local Darwin
00:22act, this is what we're doing and just make those connections.
00:25But with a dwindling number of large artists touring the Top End, these opportunities are rare.
00:31I've heard stories of really big bands coming and playing at the amphitheatre for example
00:37and I just don't think that's happening right now.
00:40Russell Temple has been booking bands for 30 years.
00:43He says Darwin tours just don't make a profit due to flight and accommodation costs
00:48and the city's small population.
00:50You don't get the industry talking in a positive manner about Darwin outside of a few events
00:56like Bass in the Grass being one of course, you don't get a positive effect throughout the industry.
01:01There was a period of time where we had these huge artists coming through Darwin.
01:05I remember back Stevie Wonder, Cliff Richard, Dire Straits came through and that hasn't happened in recent years.
01:13Locals have a few ideas about turning things around.
01:15Whether that's a version of, you know, guaranteeing against loss or really just,
01:21I mean the government themselves saying, no we value this idea of being able to bring these concerts to Darwin.
01:28A plea to help bring back the music.
01:31The End
01:32You
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