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Help

Touring

Regional NSW and Canberra venues that book touring acts and how to pitch them, touring grants, and vans, backline, insurance and radio.

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

  • The Australian Music Touring Network is a free national map of venues that book original music. Each venue profile shows capacity, stage size, PA and backline, the booking contact, accessibility and notes on places to eat and stay nearby.
  • You can add venues to a route and see the distances and driving times between stops, and export the plan to a spreadsheet. A second map shows community radio stations along the way.
  • MusicNSW's original Regional Touring Network map of regional NSW venues is still online.
  • 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.
  • Regional NSW has fifteen Regional Arts Development Organisations. 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
Dicey Riley’s HotelWollongong
Frank’s Wild YearsThirroul
Beaches HotelThirroul
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. Transport for NSW recommends a 20-minute nap if you're tired.

Source: Transport for NSW, fatigue.

5

Backline & Accom

  • 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

  • Some 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

Royalties

  • 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.
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