NSW alive with the sound of youth-run music

11 groups of young people aged 12-25 with a passion for the music industry will receive hands-on guidance to stage 17 all-age music events across the state thanks to a grant of $47,500 through the Indent Youth Music Event Development Grants program, administered by MusicNSW on behalf of Create NSW.

Regional NSW areas supported include Dubbo, Bathurst, Cessnock and Coffs Harbour, as well as the Western Sydney areas of Bankstown and Campbelltown.

Across the 11 recipient teams, at least 70 young people will learn how to put on live events through a series of free workshops run by the Indent production team in the weeks leading up to their event, as well as working on lighting, staging, sound and door sales on the day of their events.

“This is a fantastic hands-on initiative that gives valuable experience to those considering a future in the music industry and a great opportunity to showcase live original music from predominantly local bands,” said Create NSW Acting CEO Grainne Brunsdon.

Indent funding is open to groups of at least five young people, aged 12-25, who are working in partnership with a local support organisation. The program offers grants of up to $2,500 for smaller events targeted at a local level, and up to $5,000 for larger events organised by groups with previous event development experience.

The 2017-18 Indent Youth Music Event Development Grant recipient teams are:

• Axis Youth Centre Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council, Queanbeyan (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage the region’s only live youth music event LiquidFest 2018, an all-ages annual youth music event for new and emerging artists.
• Bankstown Youth Development Service, Bankstown (Western Sydney), $5,000 to stage the 4Elements hip-hop festival, a free all-age festival across three days featuring performances by over 100 local artists from over 60 diverse backgrounds, rap battles, a live arts wall and arts galleries.
• Bathurst Regional Youth Council, Bathurst (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage two YJAM all-age music events in Autumn and Winter 2018.
• Campbelltown City Council Youth Entertainment Reference Group, Campbelltown (Western Sydney), $5,000 to stage two events – a battle of the bands and Fisher’s Gig, where the winning bands will perform to an all-age audience of up to 3,000.
• Cessnock Community and Youth Development (Kurri Kurri Community Centre), Cessnock (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage the all-ages outdoor live music event YouthFest, coupled with a skate, scooter and bike competition plus amusement activities during the Youth Week event.
• Dubbo Regional Council, Dubbo (Regional NSW), $2,500 to stage Bangover, two live music events showcasing six all-ages bands at the CWA Hall, Dubbo.
• Genhealth Inc trading as headspace, Coffs Harbour Park Lane Festival, Coffs Harbour (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage the all-age laneway Park Lane Festival in the city centre and celebrate 10 years of headspace, which helps young people aged 12-25 who may be experiencing mental health issues. The event will have two stages, one for acoustic and duo acts and a main stage for bands and DJs.
• Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Evan’s Head (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage the Crankfest Youth Festival 2018, a celebration of youth culture and art featuring all-ages bands and soloists alongside a skate jam, surf competition and variety of workshops.
• MidCoast Council Manning Youth Action Team, Taree (Regional NSW), $5,000 to stage the 11^th Live’n’Loud, four events staged over the year with young performers playing to peers. Three events are in local council venues with a final outdoor music eventSummerfest held in December 2018.
• Midnite Café, Dubbo (Regional NSW), $2,500 to host a late-night café space celebrating and encouraging creativity through live music, coffee, board games and an art exhibition.
• Signal Creative, Dubbo (Regional NSW), $2,500 to stage the NEON PARTY event at the Midnite Cafe in Dubbo with three bands (aged 14-18) performing alongside the Galaxy Girls.

Published: 20 March 2018