Music community rallies as popular Fremantle venue threatened by noise complaints

Freo.Social has launched a campaign in response to a long-running battle against the threat posed by an adjacent hotel under construction, with the venue at risk of closure unless urgent action is taken.

In a statement released from the venue this morning, Freo.Social said they sought reassurances from the City of Fremantle in 2019 for protection from future development of the Old Courthouse site. However, they added, “Poor planning decisions and inaction have resulted in the venue appealing to State Government departments and the community for urgent assistance.”

In response to the campaign, Minister for Training and Workforce Development, Water, and Industrial Relations, Simone McGurk, and the Cook Government issued public statements supporting the protection of the venue from developer threats—a move praised by the venue and wider industry and supported by both the Liberal and Nationals parties.

“We wish to thank the local Fremantle community for their outpouring of support, the musicians who rallied behind the venue, and the Western Australian Music Association (WAM) for their advocacy.” said James Legge, Managing Director of Freo.Social.

“This is a fantastic first step for Freo.Social and an important win for culture here in WA. We couldn’t be more thankful for the support pledged by Government and the network of Ministers that got behind the commitment to keep the doors open at our venue.”

“It’s a world-class destination for live music that has hosted thousands of touring and local artists and is such an important asset for the local Fremantle community and for WA music.”

WAM CEO Owen Whittle said the organisation were quick to support the campaign, highlighting the impact the venue—formerly called the Fly By Night—had in shaping Western Australia’s famed musical identity.

“Freo.Social and the Fly By Night have played a vital role in platforming countless local artists. Many of which have gone on to become some of Australia’s biggest names. From Eskimo Joe, Abbe May, and The Waifs, countless musicians have gone through those doors.”

“They have been one of the few major venues south of the river and an anchor for the Fremantle music community,” he said. “Without it, we have one less mid-sized venue, losing that vital stepping stone from some of our smaller venues to our biggest.”

WAM Award-winning artist Carla Geneve was one of many local musicians that voiced their support for the venue this week.

“I felt the need to get involved with the effort to save Freo.Social because I love live original music,” she said. “It’s a frightening reality that we will not have that without venues that are willing and capable of hosting it. The situation in Fremantle over the past five years has become dire in terms of venues; Freo.Social is one of the last places music fans can see touring acts, as well as giving support opportunities to local up-and-coming bands, which is vital to grow their audiences.”

“Without venues like Freo.Social, the heart of culture in our town will die. It’s as simple as that.”

Geneve also expressed how important it was for the music community to make their voice heard on issues like this.

“I think artists can use their platforms to spread awareness of these issues and, most importantly, not give up hope,” she said. “Music fans should keep doing what they do best: going out and supporting local artists and businesses by loving their music and live music experiences at venues.”

“Mainly, local, state, and federal politicians need to understand the importance of the arts and be heavily involved in protecting it. They should make a variety of legislative changes to prevent closures. Easy access to government grants for music venues to keep their doors open and assist with other rising costs like insurance would be a great place to start too.”

What happens next remains to be seen, but Freo.Social says they are calling for “a stronger commitment from the City towards the importance of live music venues in Fremantle, with its long and rich music history.”

“Freo.Social is not the only music venue with development issues, and the venue urges the City of Fremantle to implement policies around the co-existence of commercial businesses and music venues so Fremantle can continue to thrive as a sought-after cultural destination.”

Freo.Social have launched a campaign to save the venue from noise complaints posed by hotel development next door. Follow X-Press on Facebook and sign up to our newsletter for updates on this story as it unfolds.