By Dominique Tassell
The Granite Belt Music Council (GBMC) is set to have local acts performing in Stanthorpe, with their first event to be held on Saturday 19 March.
GBMC has been working hard to hold live music at the piazza in the heart of Stanthorpe.
Secretary Marissa Clark said, “we’re really excited that we have got to this point”.
She stated that Covid-19 has been hard on musicians and the performing arts, and she’s hopeful about this opportunity to promote the arts in our region.
GBMC requires public support to fund the venture, and locals interested in supporting them can reach out to Pierre Sparks via the Tin City Music Collective Facebook page or send donations to their bank account included at the end of this article.
“This is a non-profit organisation, yet these artists must be paid like any other service to the community,” Marissa said.
GBMC President and spokesperson Kelvin Johnston and Marissa have met with a variety of performers and now have a long list of acts excited to play at the piazza from 11 am to 12 pm in the near future.
Speaking from the 2022 Australian National Busking Championship: South-East Queensland Finals, Marissa said they have secured The Free Radicals as their first act to perform on Saturday 19 March.
They’re hoping to have it in the piazza, but if not it will hopefully be held in Weeroona Park.
Kelvin said they’re “having some hiccups with red tape”.
A charity group may be booked for the piazza on Saturday 19 March, with Kelvin joking they’re “more than happy to have the charity group be entertained by our valued musicians”.
Kelvin stated that music is such a huge part of Australian culture, and they want to play everything.
“Whatever comes our way musically,” he said. “We don’t discriminate and we’d ask Council to do the same.”
The Free Radicals reloaded were second-place prize winners in the band section at the South-East Queensland Finals
Other interested local acts included the 2022 busking championship winner Shieldsy, place winners Fern Brothers, and Clay Vellacott’s act.
Nine Year Sister, internationally acclaimed award winners abroad are also keen to continue performing in the piazza.
Other local musicians excited to play in the piazza include Mark Carter, Mitch King, DJ Zerin and The Dogwood trio.
Marissa said that while speaking to musicians at the South-East Queensland Finals, many expressed that they are willing to return to Stanthorpe to play in the piazza in the future.
These artists include: LeviX, Frank and Louis, Ollie Twohill, Sarah Savannah, Dennis Comino, James Dan, and several others.
The Free Radicals Re-Loaded were recommended to the Little Theatre to perform in their Living museum re-enactment of Stanthorpe in the 1870s, which opens on the 15th of May.
Russell from The Free Radicals reloaded is keen for the gig and Shannon from the Little Theatre was happy to take his contact details.
Marissa says the vision of GBMC is to unite local artists and musicians with their community.
The Saturday timeslot from 11 am to 12 pm in the piazza is ongoing and will continually provide showcasing of talent through performance to link all arts organisations and events in our local community.
Donations can be send to the Granite Belt Music Council bank account via BSB 633 000 and Account Number 181 247 909.
