APRA gong salutes pub’s support of live music

The work of Clancy’s Fish Pub to promote live music and support artists has been given the ultimate nod, with the venue named as the Australasian Performing Right Association’s licensee of the year.

News of the accolade was revealed by the association ahead of next week’s APRA Music Awards, in which industry stars Amy Shark and Paul Kelly are nominated for Song of the Year.

Clancy’s, which has four venues in WA, including in Dunsborough, is the second WA venue to win the prize since the category’s inception.

Although the APRAs have long recognised songwriters and publishers, it was only in 2017 the awards launched the licensee of the year category to reward licensee groups for “excellent music citizenship”.

South Australia’s Governor Hindmarsh Tavern took out the inaugural award, followed by the 2018 winner Margaret River’s Settlers Tavern.

Clancy’s Fish Pub was selected as this year’s recipient after demonstrating its support of local content and its innovative use of music at its venues.

Clancy’s brand ambassador and musical director Tom Fisher described the acknowledgement as “very satisfying”.

“We always felt that musically we’ve flown under the radar but it is really something we’ve been very passionate about since my uncles started Clancy’s,” he said.

“Music is a huge part of what we are about, it’s part of our brand —our logo is a guitar with a fish bone as strings so it is very much at the front and centre of what we do.

“We take care of our musos, we give many local cats a gig and, in particular at our Dunsborough venue, we bring acts that wouldn’t usually come to the area such as UB40.”

Fisher, a musician himself, said two wins in a row for WA venues was a great endorsement of the state’s music scene.

He said Clancy’s strived to bring their audiences first rate entertainment, even at their regional venue in Dunsborough.

“We really ensure we are bringing high quality national, Perth and local acts to our venues,” he said.

“For instance, our Sunday Session in Dunsborough, we’ve kept that really high quality and free forever, with everything from triple j acts to outstanding South West musos.

“It is consistent, solid, great music - but you never know who is going to pop up at the Dunsborough session.”

The pub’s support of a range of talent is evident in its upcoming line-up.

South West favourite Lightnin Jack will wow audiences on May 5 and on May 19 Sydney’s triple j darlings I Know Leopard will grace the Sunday Session stage.

For a full list of gigs see clancysfishpub.com.au.