The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has announced a fundraising gig to kick of its Unite for the Night campaign leading up to the NSW election. 

NTIA Chair Michael Rodrigues has announced there will be a special one-off concert on March 7 at the Metro Theatre in the Sydney CBD to kick-off Unite for the Night.

“The state of our night time economy has rapidly become a top line issue in the NSW election,” he said. 

“Sydney and NSWs’ night life is slowly being strangled by endless red tape. 176 venues gone already and 100s more under pressure. This is the night fun fights back.

“Top local comedians Matt Okine, Tom Ballard, Mel Buttle and Cameron James will perform alongside musicians Gordi, I Know Leopard, Josh Pyke and Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), in a show produced by the team from Julian Morrow’s Giant Dwarf.

“This is a campaign to create positive change for Sydney’s night time economy. The campaign aims to educate people about the policies and commitments of the major parties leading into the March 23 NSW Election.

“It’s time for Sydney to wake up. If we don’t act now our city will be a cultureless palliative care facility in 10 years. I won’t accept that as an outcome for my kids. I urge government to have a good hard look at the bureaucratic mess on its hands, appoint a night-time minister and fix it.

“Our industry will turn out in numbers on March 7 at the Metro and we’d love to see passionate Sydneysiders join us in this much needed campaign to revitalise our city. I can’t put it any better than one of our founding members Jake Smyth from the Mary’s Group: If we want our culture we have to fight for it!

Matt Okine who will be performing on the night said: “In Sydney we work hard and we deserve to play hard. The night time is the time where ideas come alive and creativity soars. It brings people together for fun and excitement. I want to unite for the night, so we can reclaim our good times.”

Aria award winning artist Josh Pyke added:  “Live performance is the heart of being a musician in this country. We need places to hone our skills to compete in an international forum, and punters need places to explore the creativity of others as well as their own.”

Click here to book tickets