Q Music and GYROstream visit the Wallaby Creek Festival site.
Aspiring musicians in Hope Vale and Cooktown made new connections at two networking events held last Thursday.
Organised by Regional Arts Services Network Tropical North, music industry development association Q Music and independent music aggregator GYROstream visited the Cape to offer advice and services to anyone hoping to take their music to the next level.
RASNTN regional arts officer Waratah Nicholls said that while the visual arts were heavily supported in the Cape region, performing arts was often forgotten.
“I thought it was really important to get them up here to meet the musicians in this region and talk to them about how they can support them within the industry,” she said.
The event featured three guest speakers – Ant McKenna and Sue Ray from Q Music, and Kriza Canzon from GYRO-stream.
“I hope that some of the artists here actually (made) that connection with Q Music and GYROstream and then get ongoing support so they can develop their art into something that is a career rather than a hobby,” she said.
When asked about what she hoped participants took away from attending the event, she said
“The first thing would be that there is support for musicians out there and also that this area is important enough for people to come from leading organisations like Q Music and GYRO-stream to come.”
Networking with fellow musicians at the Wharf Kitchen in Cooktown.
Yarning circle at the Cooktown Botanic Gardens.
Q Music’s Sue Ray performs with Hope Vale musician Naz McLean.
Cooktown local musician Peta Buhmann and RASNTN manager Tony Castles.
Impromptu performance at Hope Vale by Q Music’s Ant McKenna and Sue Ray with local musician Laurie Deemal (guitar).
Cooktown musician Sarah Greaves talk about her musical aspirations.
Left to right: Kriza Canzon (GYROstream), Ant McKenna (Q Music) and Waratah Nicholls (RASNTN).
Cooktown musicians make new friends in the industry.
