Each of the ARIA Award-winning artists played their first show of the COVID-era at Lizotte's. Each also shed tears on stage.

"As far as musicians, we've had more tears of joy on the stage just to be welcomed back and to be given a place to play," Lizotte says.

"So many musicians have been very emotional. Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Kasey Chambers - three of the biggest female artists in the country - have all basically broken down and wept on stage with just the joy of getting back on stage."

Two weeks ago the NSW Government eased COVID-19 restrictions to allow dancing in venues for the first time since March 2020. The government also allowed theatres to operate at 100 per cent of their seated capacity.

It was fantastic news for Lizotte's. Previous to the March 26 changes the venue had been operating at 75 per cent of its 200 capacity.

However, Lizotte's by its intimate nature as a restaurant theatre has been one of the luckier ones. It first reopened from lockdown in June with a capacity of 50 and has kept a steady stream of shows running up to five nights per week ever since.

But there's been challenges. The constant closing of state borders due to outbreaks in Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane has caused numerous cancellations.

"The hardest part for us has been the administration and the psychological warfare of the artists postponing two or three times, and we've had so many shows that we had to postpone once and then postpone again," Lizotte says.

Lizotte - who is the older brother of Tip Of Your Tongue hit-maker Diesel - says as restrictions have eased and interstate travel has become easier, he's been bombarded by musicians seeking opportunities to perform.

That's led to Lizotte's booking lunch and dinner shows on Sundays.

"At the moment if I had eight days a week I still wouldn't have enough dates for the acts out there screaming for work," he says.

"It's unbelievable the choice I've got to make. I've obviously got to look after all the stalwarts and the regulars that we normally get back every six months, I'd love to keep doing that, but then there's that choice of two or three other acts chasing me for the same date."

Business has been more challenging for other music venues. The Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC) released a survey of its members three weeks ago that found 70 per cent of venues had lost 75 to 100 per cent of their revenue since the lockdowns began.

In a sobering prediction, 77 per cent of live music businesses said they wouldn't survive another six months unless trading improved.

In January Newcastle's 48 Watt Street, and the attached Small Ballroom, ceased booking live music as it was no longer viable.

Then in Sydney two weeks ago punk and metal venue, Crowbar, launched a $100,000 crowd-funding campaign to keep its doors open. With two weeks remaining the venue is $74,000 short of reaching its target.

Newcastle's leading music venue the Cambridge Hotel has traditionally relied on large volumes of people.

The recent easing of restrictions means punters are no longer required to be seated, but the one person per two square metre requirement leaves the Newcastle West venue's main band room at 240 capacity. It usually hosts around 800.

When the Cambridge reopened for gigs last July it was restricted to 100 people seated. Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson and in-demand Sydney indie-pop band Lime Cordiale were the first acts to perform at the more sedate Cambridge, the latter selling out eight shows.

Since then the likes of Boo Seeka, Ruby Fields and Sneaky Sound System have played sold-out shows, but with smaller crowds meaning tighter margins, many of the major Australian acts haven't toured. Not to mention the constant uncertainty surrounding state borders.

"It's still one to two square metres, but it's been an effort and a tiring effort for our staff to continue trying to amend and adapt with all the restrictions that come and go," Cambridge co-owner Greg Mathew says.

"At the Cambridge the activities haven't been as strong as we thought it might have been for shows, with this one to two square metre rule, a lot of the bands are sitting back. It's expensive to go and get out. They can't maximise the full capacity of venues and it's hard for them to make money.

"I would imagine from the middle of this year, to the remainder, we'll have a pretty jam-packed calendar at the Cambridge."

Mayfield's Stag and Hunter Hotel were one of the first venues in Newcastle to book ticketed music shows when the initial restrictions were eased last June. At the time the venue's dinner shows were restricted to 30 people and according to publican Mick Starkey it was almost "a community service," with the hotel losing money.

"It was more about my bloody mental health to say we've still got things to look forward to and still got jobs to do, rather than just sitting there and waiting for 20 customers, let's do some stuff," Starkey says.

However, Starkey says the gamble paid off by building the Stag's profile as a music venue. Under current restrictions the venue is operating at a capacity of 80.

"We had a fairly good result," he says. "Now that restrictions are easing we might find it a little bit tougher as everyone is getting back into it and there's options for the punters.

"That's really good, don't get me wrong, but we've got to keep on top of it."

There is certainly cause for music fans to be positive. Next weekend the University of Newcastle's Bar On The Hill will re-open with two 1300-capacity shows from Pnau and The Rubens and Dashville will welcome the return of the Gum Ball music festival at Lower Belford after last year's edition was cancelled.

Also this week it was announced that Wests NEX would reintroduce live music in June when they host two shows from Western Australian indie-pop band San Cisco.

The ever effervescent Lizotte is confident live music in Newcastle is set for a massive second half of 2021.

"I was just down in Hobart for the Red Hot Summer Tour with Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, Jon Stevens, Vika and Linda and you just thought it seems so long ago last year when we were shut down," Lizotte says.

"It's a human nature thing. Once the music's back and back into our lives, hopefully it will be a distant memory of years gone by. Let's hope."