A new grassroots live music initiative is launching in Seventeen Mile Rocks, with organisers aiming to rebuild connections between artists, venues and audiences through a collaborative performance platform.
Apollo Sound Collective, founded by local music industry figures Mark of Distortion Nation and Dano from the band Scandal Tree, will begin running regular Friday night shows at White Lies Brewing.
The initiative was established on 4 October 2025 and was created in response to concerns about the changing landscape of the live music scene, including fewer venues hosting performances and increasing economic pressure on musicians and promoters.
The first event organised by the collective is scheduled for 28 March, marking the beginning of a regular series of live shows at the brewery venue. It will feature performances by Black Whiskey, Kentucky Green, Dead Hand Blues and The Royals.
An artist-led approach
Apollo Sound Collective is designed as an artist-run platform that connects original musicians with venues willing to support live performances.
According to the founders, the idea emerged after years working within the industry and observing shifts in how the live music ecosystem operates.
“We’ve both been part of the scene for a long time, and we started noticing something changing,” said Dano.
“There used to be a real sense of fraternity between artists and venues—everyone pulling in the same direction. Over the last few years that feeling has started to disappear.”
The founders say that rising costs, industry changes and broader economic pressures have affected both artists and venues, with some locations reducing their live music programming or closing entirely.
Mark said this has contributed to a growing divide between performers and venues.
“What we’ve seen developing is this unfortunate ‘us and them’ mentality between artists and venues,” he said.
“But the reality is we all need each other. Without venues, artists have nowhere to perform. Without artists, venues don’t have live music. The audience is the final piece of that puzzle.”
Creating performance opportunities
The collective aims to create opportunities for original artists to perform without pay-to-play barriers, while helping venues source performers for live events.
Through direct coordination with venues that support live music, Apollo Sound Collective plans to curate events that bring together artists, audiences and industry connections.
“The idea is simple,” Dano said.
“Artists should be able to perform without being asked to buy their way onto a stage. If the music is good and the event is run properly, everyone benefits—the venue, the band, and the audience.”
The platform also aims to provide musicians with access to established venues and a collaborative network of artists and creatives.
For venues, the initiative offers a consistent pipeline of original acts and support in organising live events.
“It’s not just about putting on gigs,” Mark said.
“It’s about creating a structure where artists and venues actually support each other again. When that happens, the audience feels it. That’s when scenes start to grow.”
Focus on rebuilding community
Organisers say the broader goal of Apollo Sound Collective is to strengthen the sense of community around grassroots music.
Rather than operating solely as a traditional promoter, the collective is intended to function as a collaborative platform linking musicians, venues and audiences.
“Great music scenes don’t happen by accident,” Dano said.
“They happen because people decide to work together instead of competing with each other.”
With its first event scheduled for late March, the collective is currently building relationships with venues and artists as it develops a network of live events for original music.
“If we can help even a small part of the scene reconnect and start building momentum again, that’s a win,” Mark said.
“We want to create something that lasts.”
Published 12-March-2026
