Creating fresh, new opportunities for live music in the Tweed is one of the main objectives of Council's new Live and Local Tweed program.
Council's Cultural Planner Dave Burgener announced a curator for the micro-festival and the community working group members who will help guide the project, following a strong response to an expressions of interest campaign launched in September.
"Tweed Creative Studios' founder and musician Chantal Waters will curate the micro-festival and we have a diverse group of people joining her on the working group," Mr Burgener said.
"There is such a wealth of musical and creative talent in the Tweed – highlighted just this week with 2 local Tweed Coast artists Budjerah Slabb and JK-47 – taking out top awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2021. We need to do everything we can to support our home-grown talent moving forward."
Joining Ms Waters on the working group are independent artists Melissa Black, Matt Aitchison, James Doyle, youth musician Charles Bullus, venue manager Rosie Evans, artist management director Katy Williams and Brett Canning form Germinate Records.
Ms Waters said she was looking forward to being part of a project to support a resurgence in live music in the Tweed.
"I would like to think that people, having been deprived of live music for so long during the COVID-19 pandemic, have a greater appreciation of the artists and the work they put into performing," she said.
"After the lockdowns and restrictions, there is a genuine excitement about people being able to go out and see and hear live performances again.
"I am excited about the opportunities we can create through this program – for new musicians and original music, for venues to host performances and for the public to enjoy them."
Mr Burgener said the community working group will consider how to face the challenges of the local live music sector, especially after the industry has been hit so hard by COVID-19 restrictions.
Live and Local Tweed will feature a series of professional development workshops, the creation of a free micro music festival with small-scale gigs in local venues, and an industry forum event to support consideration of the music sector in relevant Council plans, policies and strategies.
The activities are expected to get underway in early 2022, starting with the professional development workshops.
The Live and Local Tweed program aims to stimulate employment opportunities for musicians, particularly young and emerging artists.
Live and Local Tweed is presented by Tweed Shire Council in partnership with the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS.
