A timeless hit ‘It’s a long way to the top, (if you wanna rock and roll)’ blares down the streets of Melbourne. Over 20,000 people chanted the lyrics in harmony, as they marched their way into creating a moment in Australia’s history as one of the largest cultural protests. 

In 2010, Helen Marcou and Ian ‘Quincy’ Mclean, co-founders of the grassroots movement SLAM (Save Lives Australian Music), alongside Jon Perring from Fair Go 4 Live Music, orchestrated the march on Victoria’s Parliament House in support of keeping live music alive.

The protest was the catalyst in rescuing the live music scene in Melbourne from introducing regulatory policy that was associating high risk behavior with live venues, threatening smaller venues and gigs throughout the city.

Since then, Marcou and Quincy have been part of serving the Australian music scene for over 26 years as the owners of Bakehouse Studios, with many household names walking through their doors.

The vintage styled studios are in the 120-year-old building between North Richmond train station and Hoddle Street, with rehearsal rooms and renovated spaces catering to emerging artists.

Marcou spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald about the Bakehouse Bursaries project. The need for this project arose in the immediate wake of the COVID lockdowns.

“We’ve been shut for 200 days and whatever, and the first observation we made as we reopened is that women weren’t coming back,” Marcou told the SMH.

“Financial opportunities were being lost and the first thing to go was art.”

The project now gives back to the community in the form of supporting women and gender-diverse musicians needing rehearsal space and production equipment.

Following a successful rollout in 2021, the second round of applications is open until February 28.

Source: Greekherald.com.au