Brunswick Music Festival introduces Sound Sessions into 2019 Program

HEXDEBT - photo by Jamie WdziekonskiWith the 2019 iteration of the Brunswick Music Festival just around the corner, festival organisers have announced Sound Sessions – a series of panels, workshops and events – along with an artist in residence and mentorship program – all geared towards women, trans and non-binary artists working in, or wanting to crack into, the music industry.

Supported by Creative Victoria the program also features an extensive range of partners – APRA AMCOS, Bandmates Victoria, Girls Rock! Melbourne, The Push, The Rock and Roll Writers Festival and Thickwave – along with an impressive line up of panelists, speakers and workshops facilitators.

The festival’s inaugural Artists in Residence, HEXDEBT collaborate with a chamber orchestra to re-imagine their music where post-punk and classical collide in a special one-off show HEXDEBT – An Orchestral arrangement and are set to bring the general public behind the scenes for an open rehearsal and songwriting workshop at Siteworks.

A live music Photography Exhibition showcasing the work of local female and NB photographers. Seen and Believed centres on the photo-documentation of Melbourne’s diverse and intricate underground music scene. These featured photographers are front row where music is political, powerful and subverts the norm.

Musician, DJ and producer Simona Castricum moderates a conversation that turns up the wattage on the unique work and passion of three of Melbourne’s leading sound and production artists in 9 Volt – Production, Sound and Music, while Bandmates Victoria matches people with disability and mental health issues with volunteers to see live music and will host a masterclass on inclusivity and social access in Masterclass In Accessibility.

New narratives of cultural identity have forced the Australian media to rethink the way it represents and gives platforms to voices that are often erased in more mainstream music communities in New Narratives in Australia’s Music Media.

2019 also sees the festival launch its Mentorship Program, which serves to address some of the inequities for women, trans and non-binary artist, producers and technicians in the music industry. Mentors Michelle Grace Hunder, Evelyn Ida Morris, Jane Gazzo, Candy Bowers and Alice Ivy will all be sharing their knowledge and insights with the program mentees.
 
The introduction of Sound Sessions highlights yet another way the long-running festival has evolved to reflect the changing landscape in contemporary music. The 2019 Brusnwick Music Festival runs 3 – 17 March. For more information and full program, visit: www.brunswickmusicfestival.com.au for details.

Image: HEXDEBT – photo by Jamie Wdziekonski