Slowly Slowly, Bec Sandridge, Maddy Jane, RAThammock and The Pretty Littles are set to play at UC Hub. Photo: Photox/Ben Appleton.
The University of Canberra has seen major artists Cosmo’s Midnight, Angus and Julia Stone, The Rubens and The Smith Street Band perform at its on-campus music venue and now it will provide an opportunity for Canberra’s emerging bands and artists to display their talents alongside headline acts.
Taking place in the refurbished UC Hub, UC’s new event series will showcase five nationally-touring acts alongside a roster of Canberra’s emerging bands and artists.
Slowly Slowly, Bec Sandridge, Maddy Jane, RAThammock and The Pretty Littles are set to headline five gigs in the coming months alongside 10 local acts including dream pop sweethearts Neko Pink, Wollongong emo outfit Jacob, and high-school rockers Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
UC Refectory has already doubled its live music gigs total of last year with more than fifteen individual shows set to take place across two venues in the latter part of the year, thanks to UC’s live music team led by Kelsey Bagust.
Since Ms Bagust became UC’s live music manager at the beginning of the year, her team has set about proving that Canberra has plenty to offer the music industry and smash the stigma that Canberra has a poor live music scene.
A talented musician herself, Ms Bagust grew up playing gigs across Canberra until the bright lights of Melbourne bekoned her to move there in the hopes of getting her foot in through the door of the music industry. While she was there, she realised what she was missing out on and realised there was so much potential in Canberra’s music sector.
“There is so much scope and opportunity in Canberra because it is only going to improve,” Ms Bagust said.
“We want to show Canberrans that we have cool acts here and live music can happen here. We also want to put Canberra artists in the spotlight. There a whole bunch of A+ bands here and we want to be a part of their development too. So we are pairing local Canberra bands with big dogs in the music industry.”
Ms Bagust admitted that the territory’s music venue landscape is “dire”, but she says the UC Refectory and UC Hub are wanting to pick up the slack.
“There is also this myth that Canberra does not show up for gigs, and a bunch of the acts that we have booked for this new series were going to skip Canberra until we tried to book them,” Ms Bagust told The RiotACT. “So we need to dismantle that myth that Canberra does not rock up to concerts.”
Ms Bagust said while the not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to building Canberra’s live music reputation, the team is also responsible for improving student experience, so they are offering fans a chance to buy a season pass to see all five gigs for a mere $20.
29 September – Maddy Jane, Cathy Diver & Lady Denman
5 October – Slowly Slowly, Jacob & Azim Zain
12 October – Bec Sandridge, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers & Neko Pink
19 October – RAT!hammock, My Pet Ant & Plastic Plants
2 November – The Pretty Littles, Helena Pop & HYG
Tickets available via Oztix | Presale $5 (each show) | Season Pass $20 (entry to all five shows)
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