PRESS RELEASE: Dinner and dance at home: how the humble dinner party is keeping artists afloat

Following a revenue plummet of over $700m last year, the live music industry in Australia has seen better days. If any industry has stood the test of time, its entertainment, and musicians are born to adapt.

In keeping with the trend of staying in, an influx of dinner parties is providing an unexpected source of income for Australian musicians, with increased demand for live entertainment in-house.

“Late last year we had a lot of requests for dinner party drop ins and we are still seeing a lot of private bookings being requested,” said Tom Kurzel, Adelaide based founder of live music entertainment provider Dinner Party Drop Ins.

“It has been a continued source of income for professional musicians whose sole income was lost overnight. We are still feeling the pinch from hoteliers/venue owners not commiting to live music like pre-Covid days so any extra gigs is a welcomed financial assistance.”

The number of visitors allowed in a household has steadily increased in each state with NSW now allowing 50 visitors to your home.

This has increased the number of household gatherings, with minimal restrictions in place compared to public venues where visitors cannot stand and dance, indoor hospitality is still restricted to just 25 people.

Singer songwriter Hattie Oates said COVID-19 has had a “devastating” impact on the music industry.

“The standard weekend full of pub gigs became a lucky draw based on how many Coronavirus cases there were that week,” the young musician said.

“Instead, intimate sessions in someone’s backyard or around the dinner table became the norm. It was not only good for the cash flow, but also for keeping the passion and dream alive. It’s why the revival of the dinner party has been an absolute lifesaver for my music and other musicians.”

Eresha De Zoysa, founder of luxury spices brand Lord & Lion, has had a number of intimate gatherings at her home in recent months in Sydney.

During each lockdown she “rarely left the house”, making gathering opportunities “essential for trying to make the best of a very challenging year”.

“Music is so important for our family and it has become even more important this past year,” Eresha said. “When we haven’t been able to attend concerts, performances and live music gigs, being able to host a small, intimate evening with live music has been such a highlight.”

Hattie said: “The idea of turning what would usually be a public gig into a memorable, intimate acoustic session or private concert, has been a popular way to spice up a stay at home weekend. I think 2021 will only see more of these kinds of events as postponed parties and gatherings from 2020 are finally allowed to go ahead.

“While the public venues are beginning to open up, certain restrictions that can be avoided at home still affect the normality of a night out.”

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About Hattie Oates: With a soul well beyond her 17 years, Hattie Oates is a hot home-grown Australian music talent. Her sound is as unique as it is strong and memorable; reminiscent of Nora Jones and Amy Winehouse, Hattie’s voice appeals to the core.

“Growing up in rural Australia, where it doesn’t rain for years, when it does it’s a flood that destroys communities… I guess you absorb a lot of heavy emotion from a young age, it does make you incredibly resilient I think,” says Hattie on growing up in country NSW.

Based in Tamworth Australia, Hattie found her dedication and love for music at just 10 years old. This passionate singer-songwriter paved her musical path when she taught herself to play the guitar while watching her older brother. A short time later, she discovered a love for singing; the rest is history.

Gifted with a musical ear, Hattie has an amazing ability to flip cover songs on their head to re-create and make her own. This year Hattie released a new single called “High” as a follow up to the popular EP Hattie. Listen to Hattie Oates on Spotify