Venue closures and gig cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic has meant many musicians have opted to livestream their concerts online.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From rock bands to DJ sets, Illawarra artists are getting in on the act as well via a new Unanderra-based live music venture.
The Livestreemer platform, launched a few months ago, is an off-shoot of creative production company IICONIC Creative.
"It started off when the lockdown came in, and we've got a dedicated studio space for it," co-director Diego Bian said.
"When the lockdown happened we were just as affected as everybody. We do a lot of event work and production work, and we were pretty much wiped out like most of the production guys.
"We had our studio space, and we talked to a couple of our partners and just decided to start doing it.
"We saw it starting to build up, the quality was definitely there, and then it just got better and better."
Mr Bian said they wanted it to be "the next step up, as opposed to just doing your lounge room kind of stream".
Mr Bian said they were averaging about 10,000 views a week across all their shows.
"We just ran a massive disco event on Saturday night with a seven-piece disco band, DJs, and like a VIP event with ten people as part of an audience.
"Every week from Friday to Sunday, there's always something going on. There's bands, DJs, kids' entertainment, theatre groups."
He said they had built the livestreaming business with a view to it being a long-term proposition, including options such as creating paywalls or subscriptions.
"We've got 150sqm studio space, the stage is nice and big.
"We've got plenty of space for movement, and VIPs if they want to be there."
Illawarra metal band Carbon Black are now embracing the livestream approach.
To mark the release of new single The One Who Knows My Name, their first live performance since January will be streamed via Livestreemer this Friday from 7pm.
Bassist Rob Giles said the full live set was pre-recorded in advance at Livestreemer's Unanderra performance space.
It was pre-recorded due to specific requirements regarding production values and the single's release date.
"It was the perfect time to do it, because with all the lockdown stuff going on, it was a good opportunity to get in there," he said.
"In the current climate you can't go and book a single launch gig or tour, so this is the next best alternative.
"It's a mix of tracks from the album, and a bunch of new songs that we're in the process of recording now."
Giles said although they weren't performing to fans in the room with them, there were aspects of the live-stream gig that were akin to any other show.
"Like all live performances... There's always one of us (afterwards) who's not happy with something, like, 'gee, I could have done that better'," he laughed.
"It really represents our normal live show, and it's got the perfections and the imperfections."
You can check it out at www.facebook.com/LIVESTREEMER.TV/ or www.livestreemer.com.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.