G’day Forte crew,
We’re back on for Episode #15 of ‘This State We’re In’. It’s great to be edging towards 18, our legal/journalistic coming of age. The weather is beginning to turn and warm up, it’s Grand Final season, and there has been some awesome live music happenings and releases to keep our senses in tip top condition.
Freshly returned from possibly the largest BIGSOUND (music industry conference and festival in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane) on record, we joined other industry and artists from around the world to conference, learn, network, and check out the best emerging bands in the country. Highlights include Warrnambool-bred rising star Didirri (we may have seen him four or five times…), Angie McMahon (WATCH THIS SPACE), the white hot Teskey Brothers, some amazing panels, including on ‘Drugs & Health In Music’, and hosting our annual Victorian Music Mixer with The Push Inc. and Creative Victoria. It was choc-a-block with homegrown legends sharing their BIGSOUND and career stories. If you get the chance, get thee to the ‘Valley sometime to see what all the fuss is about. Then SLEEP…
Our faithful leader Paddy has also just returned from a trade mission to what many consider the centre of the music universe – Nashville, Tennessee. He joined a number of Victorian musicians at Americanafest – The American Music Festival and Conference, and happened to be in the right place at the right time one Sunday afternoon at a farewell catch up and jam at Urban Cowboy, a boutique hotel and restaurant part-owned by Melbourne-bred, New York-based producer Andy Baldwin. When the crew from global cooking show The Zimmern List asked if they could shoot the jam for a special feature on Nashville, the impromptu band, featuring Victorian’s Emilee South and Matt Dixon, Larissa Tandy, Andy Baldwin, Dobe Newton, members of All Our Exes Live in Texas and local musicians Ruby Amanfu, Mitch Jones and Tia Thomason, performed two songs which will be featured on the show and will result in a profile boost and royalties. NICE! Keep an eye on our socials, as the lineup for The Age Music Victoria Awards has been announced, with voting for your fave regional act, venues and festival opening soon.
See you on the sticky stuff.
Coops & the Music Vic crew.
Regional member of the month:
Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival – November 9 – 12
A four day event of awesome blues and roots performances, jam sessions and workshops throughout Bendigo and surrounding towns; the centrepiece of which is a day-long family friendly concert featuring more than a dozen top-class acts over two stages in the picturesque Rosalind Park. Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival is a not-for- profit event run by volunteers for the betterment of the live music scene in Central Victoria – it re-engages mainstream punters in local and community events and the arts. The festival program is not about selling you the biggest names for the highest prices – it’s about sharing musical discoveries and enriching our grass-roots culture with music made by talented artists who deserve your attention and support. Featuring Shane Howard and Yirrmal, Terry ‘Harmonica’ Bean (USA) & Iseula Hingano, and face melters King of the North, its sure to be a goodie.
Regional gig of the month:
Dag and Ciggie Witch, Dart & Marlin, Warrnambool – October 26
As part of an epic Regional Vic tour, this October, the second instalment of the Great Southern Land tour continues. A new concept developed by Bedroom Suck Records and The Adventure Handbook, GSL aims at touring bands into the further-flung regional corners of Australia. Surf Coasters and Warrnamboolians, be sure to dig on Dag and Ciggie Witch. Cough.
Industry updates from Music Victoria
Written by Nick Cooper, Operations & Program Manager of Music Victoria
Image sourced via Didirri socials
