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Jack River Leads The Charge For Australian Music
You may soon hear more Australian music played in public spaces due to an initiative kick-started by our very own Jack River. The multi-instrumentalist indie-pop artist from Forster (real name Holly Rankin) has a successful debut album, and continues to record new music, although she really grabbed the nation’s attention just recently when she publicly challenged Channel 7’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics, and it’s choices in music during the coverage. Channel Seven host Edwina Bartholomew and Channel Nine’s Karl Stefanovic then climbed on board, as River’s post went viral among Australian musicians. For the remainder of the Olympic tv coverage, the music was suddenly all homegrown. The global pandemic has wreaked havoc with the Australian music industry over the past 18 months, leaving muso’s seeking new ways to have their voices heard. Hopefully the plan to have more Australian music played in supermarkets and stores will lead to an increase in royalties and exposure for the struggling industry. To learn more about the “Our Soundtrack Our Stories” campaign, and to find ways you can support homegrown talent, visit https://www.aria.com.au/our-soundtrack-our-story To support our own Indie artist extraordinaire, and to hear her new EP, visit https://www.jackrivermusic.com/ Written by Jayce...
Read MoreSleepBuses: Helping Those In Need
A good night’s sleep is everything. With the dramatic increase of men, women, and their children ending up on the streets due to financial strife, family breakdown and other factors, a man in Melbourne took action. Simon Lowe is the founder of SleepBuses.org. With the aim of bringing safe, temporary, overnight accomodation to people sleeping rough in Australia, Simon set about the ingenious idea of converting former school buses into mobile sleeping pods. Not only has the idea taken off, but the project has come to life. With the aid of GoFundMe pages, Sleepbuses now provide over 8,000 safe sleeps per year for those who would otherwise be in dire straights. These Buses don’t come cheap though. From start to finish, a retired school bus can be turned into a sleepbus at a cost of aproximately $100,000 You can hear Simon discussing the project with Jayce on the MAX 1073 Brekky show here- https://soundcloud.com/user-377596040/sleepbus-founder-simon-rowe-on-max-1073 Closer to home on the Mid North Coast, numbers indicate that there is an issue with homelessness in our area. With the situation in need of attention, a local retiree, Terry Stanton has started the Manning Homeless Action Supporters Group. Terry has also been in contact with Simon, who will be providing the bus if our community can raise the $100,000 needed. Terry wishes to thank the Manning United Church, Rotary clubs across Taree, the Samaritans of Taree, and Compass Housing for their initial interest and help to get the ball rolling for a potential Sleepbus on the Mid North Coast. To learn more, or to donate, visit https://www.sleepbus.org/ Written by Jayce...
Read MoreWhale Watching On The East Coast Of Oz
Whale watchers along the east coast of NSW have been spoilt for choice as we approach peak season for whale migration. About this time of year, the majestic beasts of the sea move for warmer waters, and us land dwellers are often lucky to spot them. Recently, in Forster on our very own Mid North Coast, a southern wright whale spent almost a week in Wallis lake, giving locals a great chance to see these amazing creatures closer than usual. Some had speculated that the whale may have become disorientated by the nearby Forster/ Tuncurry bridge pilons, which lead to its brief stay-over in the small body of water. Recently, humpback whales have been spotted between Coogee and Bondi in Sydney, and a mother and calf near Wollongong. The Gap in Watsons Bay is recommended as the most popular place to watch the whales moving north, especially in September after the calves have been born. Ballina has also had recent whale activity, when a humpback and calf swan a few kilometres into the Richmond river. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Servicewebsite recommends these top whale watching spots: Charles Hamey Lookout, Kattang Nature Reserve– This clifftop lookout offers magnificent coastal views across Dunbogan Beach and around to Diamond Head. Pack binoculars for great whale and birdwatching. Perpindicular Point walking track in the Reserve also offers spectacular coastal views. Captain Cook’s Lookout, Hat’s Head– Located beneath the Smoky Cape Lighthouse near Kempsey, this is a great place to spot whales, enjoy a picnic and take in the amazing South West Rocks views. Cape Hawke Lookout, Booti Booti National Park– Just 5 minutes from Forster, the Cape Hawke lookout offers spectacular 360-degree views along the coast from the top of a dedicated tower, perfect for whale watching. Trial Bay Gaol, Arakoon National Park – Close to South West Rocks, Arakoon National Park provides plenty of headlands and foreshores to spot passing whales, as well as great picnic spots near the historic Trial Bay Gaol. Spot mother whales and their calves in the calmer waters of Front Beach during the southern migration. Happy whale...
Read MoreHow Good Are Our Local Musicians?
Living on the Mid-North Coast, there is certainly no shortage of homegrown talent. From James Johnston to Jake Davey, locals ’round here are very proud of these products of the Manning Great Lakes. Add Hudson Rose, Darren Jack, Fiona Fields, and you find yourself spoilt for choice for singer-songwriters to call our own. In the case of James Johnston, the boy from Wingham first performed in Pre-School. Since touring the country’s back road of pubs and clubs, he landed a spot on television’s Australian Idol in 2008, and The X Factor in 2014. Now with the release of his first single, “Raised Like That”, the sky’s the limit. You can hear it here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j5iBkd-sCU If you don’t know the name Jake Davey, odds are you haven’t been around the Mid Coast for long. Another emerging Country/Pop singer, Jake started at a young age and now runs his own production studio, as well as writing songs. His catchy love anthem “The Way She Does” plays infectiously on MAX 1073. Davey has proudly represented the Mid Coast, playing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Wingham Akoostic Festival, Lakeside Festival, and Country at the Beach. He has also supported artists including Diesel, Daryl Braithwaite, Rick Price, Kasey Donovan, Taylor Henderson, Travis Collins, and The Viper Creek Band. Anew release from his growing catalogue is the single “Ends With Y”. You can hear it here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVhbfL8zds Despite forever changing restrictions to viewing live music, artists like James and Jake will persist on performing. Be on the lookout for these artists at not only our airwaves, but on the touring scene at our local live music venues. Written by Jayce...
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