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Touring

Taking your music out of Sydney: regional venues that book touring acts and how to pitch them, the grants that pay for the road, and vans, gear, insurance and radio along the way.

At a glance
$5,000Sound NSW pays up to this much a person towards travel and rooms.
3 townsThe Sound NSW fund needs at least three shows in three different places.
12 seatsThe biggest van you can drive on an ordinary car licence, driver included.
1

Plan the Route

  • MusicNSW's Regional Touring Network map lists regional NSW venues with capacity, the booker's name and contact, the PA and backline, and places to stay nearby.
  • MusicNSW has coordinators for the Northern Rivers, the Central West, the Riverina, the Far South, the Mid North Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong. You can book a meeting with one through the regional page.
  • Start promoting each date six to eight weeks out. MusicNSW has a free guide to regional tour promotion.
  • Every region has a Regional Arts Development Organisation that knows the local scene. The list is on Regional Arts NSW.
2

Venues That Book Touring Acts

Capacity is shown after the town where the venue gives it. Tap a venue for who books it.

Newcastle and the Hunter
The Stag & Hunter HotelMayfield · 220
The Hamilton Station HotelIslington
Wollongong and the Illawarra
La La La'sWollongong
WavesTowradgi · 1,400
North Wollongong HotelNorth Wollongong · 1,000
Blue Mountains and Central Coast
Baroque Room, The CarringtonKatoomba · 18+
Central Coast Leagues ClubGosford · 600
South Coast and Southern Highlands
Tathra HotelTathra
  • PitchThe performer form on their site, or [email protected], 02 6494 1101. They book three to four months ahead, with touring and local originals on weekend afternoons.
  • Linktathrahotel.com.au
Bermagui Country ClubBermagui · 350
Murrah HallMurrah · 140
Club NaroomaNarooma · 300
Bowral Bowling ClubBowral · 300
The Goulburn Club, Durack RoomGoulburn · 80
Smokey HorseBraidwood · 100
Canberra and Queanbeyan
Smith's AlternativeCivic · 100 seated
  • Pitch[email protected] with links, dates, supports and a phone number.
  • Deal70% of the door to the artist after GST for two-set shows. Touring acts should talk to them before booking other Canberra venues.
  • Linksmithsalternative.com
The BasementBelconnen
  • PitchThe booking form on their homepage, or 0413 354 359.
  • Linkthebaso.com.au
The Royal HotelQueanbeyan · 300
Central West
The VictoriaBathurst · 100
Old Bank Restaurant & BarDubbo · 200
New England
The Armidale PlayhouseArmidale · 120
The Armidale StudioArmidale · 50
The New England Hotel, UpstairsArmidale
The Tamworth HotelTamworth · 500
The Press Basement BarTamworth · 120
Mid North Coast
The Bellingen BreweryBellingen · 100
The Coffs Hotel, BackroomCoffs Harbour · 200
Jetty Beach HouseCoffs Harbour · 500
FinniansPort Macquarie · 300
Manning Entertainment CentreTaree · 500
Northern Rivers
Byron TheatreByron Bay · 266
Mullumbimby Civic Memorial HallMullumbimby · 350
The RegentMurwillumbah · 260
Music Mountain CafeMount Burrell · 120
Riverina and the Murray
SS&A ClubAlbury · 650
3

Funding

Sound NSW Touring and Travel FundNext cut-off 30 Oct
  • WhatUp to $5,000 a person, for up to six people, towards flights, car hire, petrol, tolls, rooms and per diems. It doesn't cover fees or gear.
  • WhoOriginal contemporary acts, 18 and over, living in NSW for at least a year, with an ABN. The tour needs at least three shows in three towns away from home.
  • WhenApplications close monthly at noon on the last Friday. The 30 October cut-off is for tours from 25 November. The fund runs to 25 June 2027.
  • Linknsw.gov.au
Contemporary Music Touring ProgramCloses 13 Oct
  • What$5,000 to $50,000 from Creative Australia towards fees, travel, rooms, insurance and freight. Up to $15,000 for city-only tours and $25,000 with at least one regional show.
  • WhoIndividuals and groups can apply, so unsigned acts are eligible.
  • WhenCloses 13 October 2026 at 3pm for tours from 1 January 2027. The next rounds close on 2 March and 8 June 2027.
  • Linkcreative.gov.au

Create NSW's Regional Arts Touring grant doesn't fund contemporary music, and sends music acts to Sound NSW.

4

Getting There

  • A NSW car licence covers vehicles with up to 12 seats, driver included. Anything bigger needs a light rigid licence.
  • Bargain Car Rentals hires 12-seat minibuses in Sydney from $120 a day, with trailers. Turnbull's Hire at Sydney Airport hires 12-seaters with tow bars and box trailers.
  • The Sydney $60 weekly toll cap doesn't apply to hire vehicles. Check tolls with the toll calculator and petrol with FuelCheck.
  • Share the driving, stop regularly and avoid driving through the night after a show. A 20-minute nap is the quickest fix for tiredness.

Source: Transport for NSW, fatigue.

5

Backline and Rooms

  • MGB Backline in Artarmon hires out drums, amps and keys by appointment. Call 02 8004 2606.
  • Some venues have rooms for acts: The Victoria in Bathurst, The Tamworth Hotel and The Goulburn Club. Each venue page on the Regional Touring Network map names a motel nearby.
6

Insurance

  • Many venues ask acts for public liability cover. Musicians Australia membership, $3.89 a week, includes public liability and journey accident insurance.
  • Marsh sells band cover with $20 million public liability for up to 20 members: $85 for 7 days, $185 for 30 days or $485 for a year.
  • Gear cover for theft and damage on the road is available from specialist insurers such as Musicians Insurance.

Source: Marsh, band and performing group insurance.

7

Radio Along the Way

  • Put the release on Amrap so community stations in each town can find it, and pitch interviews two weeks to a month before the gig.
  • 2XX in Canberra and 2BBB in Bellingen take music through a form.
  • BayFM in Byron, Radio Blue Mountains, 2MCE in Bathurst and Orange, and VOX FM in Wollongong take contact through their sites.
  • More stations are on the Radio page.
8

Get Paid for Every Show

  • If you play your own songs, send each setlist to APRA AMCOS within a year of the gig to be paid royalties. It's free to join. The details are on the Money page.