Twelve Victorian musicians are kicking off the new year by preparing for career changing opportunities, thanks to the latest round of the Music Works Quick Response program.
Recipients will share in almost $70,000 in grants that will enable music artists, managers and organisations to undertake a wide range of touring, networking and development opportunities, from breaking into international markets to finding new fans in Victoria and interstate.
Half of the recipients aim to grow audiences in the US, one of Australia’s biggest music export markets, with most booked to play to large festival crowds – HTRK, Eliott, Kate Adams and Rebecca Freeman will present at South by Southwest in Texas, and Sampa the Great will embark on a 15-date tour, including Coachella in California.
Closer to home, James Franklin will take his debut album to regional audiences across Victoria, the team at Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues will stage a line-up of acts as part of the Mardi Gras Street Music Festival in Geelong, and all 15 members of The Rebelles – an all-female rock ‘n’ roll band, will perform at the Darwin Fringe Festival.
This month, folk singer Alice Skye and her manager head to New Orleans to perform and network at the Folk Alliance International Conference, while Montville Lane Sessions – a pop-up recording studio for artists in regional areas – will select an emerging artist to attend a professional development scholarship at FOCUS Wales in May.
The Music Works Quick Response program enables artists and organisations to take advantage of big opportunities at short notice – from playing headlining gigs or support acts for record-breaking artists to attending conferences and meeting to expand networks and knowledge. For more information, visit: www.creative.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: The Rebelles (supplied)
Recipients of the Music Works Quick Response program are:
Billy Davis, $15,000
To break into the European and UK markets through an 18-date tour supporting record-breaking artist Tones and I, alongside several headline shows.
HTRK, $5,000
To strengthen connections in the North American market through a series of showcase performances at SXSW festival in California and additional shows through North America.
Penney & Logan, $3,000
To build further touring and business opportunities for artist Alice Skye in the North American market, through attending and showcasing at Folk Alliance International Conference with manager Carolyn Logan.
suitesounds trading as Montville Lane, $4,600
To provide a scholarship opportunity to a young regional artist to participate in a networking and development opportunity at FOCUS Wales, facilitated in partnership with the co-founder of FOCUS Wales.
Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues, $6,000
To stage a line-up of live music acts as a part of the Mardi Gras Street Music Festival in Little Mallop Street, Geelong.
Eliott, $5,000
To strengthen profile in the US market through showcases at SXSW festival, as well as song writing sessions, performances, publicity opportunities and meetings across New York, Nashville and Los Angeles.
James Christopher Wade, $3,100
To engage new audiences for the artist’s debut album on a headline tour through regional Victoria.
Kate Adams, $2,800
To attend SXSW to support showcasing artist Gena Rose, as well as consolidate and develop new relationships for artists on the rosters of Fresh Air Artists and Heartstop Music.
Sampa the Great, $13,500
To embark on a 15-date tour through the USA, including a performance at Coachella to engage new audiences for her debut album The Return.
Rebecca Freeman, $5,000
To engage new audiences and industry contacts with a focus on increasing touring and festival performance opportunities, through a showcase at SXSW and other performances.
Shaun Kirkup, $3,050
To return to Canada, after the success of his first tour in early 2019, to build new audiences and industry relationships through headline shows and a tour supporting established local artist Matt Andersen.
The Rebelles, $12,000
To build regional audiences and expand professional networks, performing two gigs at the Darwin Railway Club and delivering a public choir workshop as part of the Darwin Fringe Festival in July 2020.