Small venues are key to a thriving Australian music industry, according to The Rubens' Elliott Margin.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The band, which comes from Menangle, putting its money where its mouth is, with an upcoming tour focused on country venues like Bathurst, Young ... and Gerringong.
"This is our way of making sure there's still a scene and still an opportunity for young artists to play in front of an audience," Margin said.
"As musicians, that's how we cut our teeth, playing in tiny venues around Sydney, and we're seeing a lot of those tiny venues shut down."
There is a different type of energy when the crowd can spill their beer on you
- Elliott Margin
He said the thrill of playing for new audiences made smaller gigs as much fun as bigger shows, like Splendour in the Grass, which the band played last weekend.
"There's a lot of pressure at the bigger shows like Splendour, a lot of money goes into production and lighting," he said.
"There is a different type of energy when the crowd can spill their beer on you - there's a raucous energy we've always loved.
"It's great to have the opportunity to do both of those things only a week apart from each other."
He said the band hoped that playing rural venues would show there was a market for live music outside capital cities.
The Rubens will play Crooked River Winery at Gerringong on September 7, and Margin said the band hoped to make it a family affair.
"It's close to our home town, so we have lots of friends and family coming down," he said.
"We're going to try and do some golf, and then just have fun."