IT'S ON.

In response to the growing discontent with the State Government's lockout laws and the negative affect they are having on Sydney, Keep Sydney Open are holding a rally. Meeting at Belmore Park in Central, the rally will then make its way into the CBD just after 1pm, stopping by soon-to-close venue Bar Century to conduct a mock funeral for all the closed venues, small businesses and jobs lost since the lockouts.

There will be speeches and performance from many notable personalities, with more to be announced during the week. Confirmed so far are:

Isabella Manfredi from globe-conquering band The Preatures (Speaker)
Dave Faulkner from iconic Australian band Hoodoo Gurus (Speaker)
Bernard Keane, Political Editor of Crikey and author (Speaker)
Tyson Koh from Keep Sydney Open (MC/Speaker)
Art vs Science (Musical performance)
Royal Headache (Musical performance)

There will be t-shirts on sale at Belmore Park before the rally proceeds on.

In 2010, live music advocacy group SLAM (Save Live Australia's Music) staged a rally in Melbourne in response to lockouts. The turnout was estimated to be 17,000 people and is attributed with being instrumental in the removal of the Melbourne lockout in favour of other measures like supporting the live music scene, increasing police presence in the CBD and implementing 24-hour transport on the weekend.

More speakers will be announced during the week.

The Keep Sydney Open rally urges:

- the removal of the 1:30am lockout
- 3am cease of service exemptions for licensed premises that are predominantly live music venues
- an end to the new licence freeze for predominantly live music venues and small bars
- the lifting of restrictions on retail hours
- late-night public transport, like in Melbourne
- the introduction of a Night Mayor, like in Amsterdam and Berlin
- an invitation from government to discuss next steps in partnership with those whose livelihoods depend on the music and cultural industries thriving in Sydney
- police to work with not against the responsible venues who provide safe nights out in a global city

We encourage marchers to move onto Mardi Gras Fair Day in Victoria Park, Astral People's Summer Dance at National Art School, Harpoon Harry's, SuperOpenAir at The Factory Theatre or the Future Classic x Museum of Contemporary Art event afterwards.

Invite all your friends, and have some fun with it and make some family-friendly placards (lol). Let's have our voices heard and Keep Sydney Open!