The best and brightest popular music talent from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith Universitywill bring life to the Australia Day Festival in the South Bank Parklands this Sunday 26 January.
Nine fresh musical acts – Hussy Hicks, Josh Lovegrove, Double Lined Minority, Maximo, Lani & Lecia, Bambini, Cody Butler, Jackson James Smith and Georgia Potter are among the line-up set to feature across five stages from 12.15pm to 7pm.
Each of the acts are either current students or recent graduates of the Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM) program and will showcase free, live original music.
The musicians are on the cusp of their professional careers and these gigs will offer local audiences the opportunity to uncover some new unearthed talent, according to Queensland Conservatorium Deputy Director (Gold Coast) Donna Weston.
“The BPM program has launched the careers of musicians from the likes of bands such as The Delta Riggs, Nine Sons of Dan, The John Steele Singers and Wolfmother,” she says.
“Each year we see new talent come through the ranks that continues to impress, so it is perfect timing for music lovers to experience this first-hand.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our young musicians to experience life as an independent artist and for local audiences to see the level of creativity bred in our hometown.”
The all-ages Australia Day Festival will showcase this new music alongside interactive art installations, a traditional flag raising ceremony complete with the thunderous RAAF flypast and twenty-one gun salute, Young Designer Markets and a fireworks display.
Featured artist Josh Lovegrove has just returned home from his debut appearance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and his fifth performance at the Woodford Folk Festival.
He plans to release his brand new EP this year, almost two years since his first single hit iTunes — although he says a lot has happened during that time.
“I’ve been performing relentlessly around this beautiful country with my first North Queensland ‘See You Soon’ headline tour, I’ve explored the whole East Coast of Australia from Cairns to the Great Ocean Road and throughout the Northern Territory,” he says.
“I’ve met so many amazing people, seen the most incredible sunsets and had some of the best times of my life. This next record is a collection of some of those moments.”
To see Josh and the other artists perform at the Australia Day Festival in South Bank this weekend, check out the full program on the Australia Day website.
Learn more about theQueensland Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Popular Music and the Seed Project.
