Just because Sydney’s One Day collective, which features members of several prominent Aussie hip-hop institutions, have managed to prosper in the age of the state’s infamous lockout laws, it doesn’t mean they have to like them.
Writing for Concrete Playground, Nick Lupi of Spit Syndicate and Raph of Jackie Onassis explain that while the lockouts have effectively proved a boon to their One Day Sundays day party events, they’re still a bane for the rest of Sydney’s nightlife.
“In a nation that wastes $20 billion a year on gambling and the like, our out-of-touch baby boomer legislators decide instead to come after the musicians, creatives and events of the late night party scene,” they write.
“In spite of this targeted crusade, we feel like One Day Sundays has played a role the shift towards day parties, one that has come about in the wake of lockouts strangling many venues and club nights.”
“In a sense, the lockouts have probably helped our parties… as they’re predominantly day parties (and finish before lockout).” Still, as Nick and Raph explain, the lockouts have been “culturally and economically destructive”.
After highlighting how the perceived benefits of the lockout laws have come at a terrible, unspoken cost, the two address the wider issues underpinning the failure of the lockout laws and cite them as part of what’s holding Australia back culturally.
“As Sydneysiders who enjoy having a good time and believes individual responsibility should trump the nanny-state mentality when it comes to civil liberties, we think the lockouts are an embarrassment for a city that likes to consider itself world-class,” they write.
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“When you think of progressive and innovative creative hubs, you think of places like Berlin with their late night culture and limited alcohol regulation, or London’s all-night rave scene that has birthed so many genres and trends. Australia is fair way off these places in this regard — but we are catching up quickly.”
“Putting a leash on the events, artists, DJs and promoters where these scenes grow and flourish starves innovation and stifles creativity. It’s an action that screams, ‘Stop what you’re doing and go home.'”
Readers can check out the whole thing over at Concrete Playground. For another Sydney band’s insight into the devastating effects of the lockout laws, check out Tone Deaf’s recent chat with much-loved rockers Sticky Fingers.
