The Canberrans: Dave Caffery

Posted on 23 October, 2020

If there is a party or event taking place in Canberra, chances are Dave Caffery either organised it or got an invite.

He is a man who wears many hats. Dave is a cultural philosopher, the Director of Dionysus, Art Not Apart Festival Director, Events Coordinator for the NewActon precinct, Music ACT President, and on the Board of the Australian Dance Party.

He has his finger on the pulse when it comes to where people sing, dance and play across Canberra and is on a mission to facilitate more “soul for the city”.

But he also has much to say about planning regulations in the city, which stymie our cultural life from really taking hold.

He has long been lobbying for the nation’s capital to provide more inspiring venues for visiting musicians and wants entertainment areas suitably regulated for the coexistence of music and life.

While the government is calling for mixed use precincts to be developed throughout the city, quite frankly, Dave is sick of “rich, old, white, boring people” who want to live in these areas but make noise complaints and ruin it for everyone.

On a more philosophical level, we ask him what music concerts are going to look like in the post-COVID era, and where he would go if he got one golden ticket to see any cultural event in the world.

For the full podcast, go here.

The Canberrans is a collaboration between Newcast Studios, Lonsdale Street Studio, Salon Canberra and HerCanberra.