What are you most looking forward to about the Darebin Music Festival, and why?
I think the Darebin Music Fest will be a great opportunity to discover artists that I wouldn’t normally be exposed to. The program looks really diverse, so I’m looking forward to diving in and exploring some fresh aural sustenance!
What’s your favourite venue in Darebin, and why?
This is a tricky one – there’s so much to choose from! I’ve seen lots of great gigs at the Northcote Social Club, and I like having a pub meal and sundown ciders beforehand. Sundays at the Wesley Anne are always a treat (what a great beer garden too!), but my favourite is popping into Open Studios and catching some cool jazz or gypsy music.
Do you think there’s a danger that people can take the music scene for granted in Darebin, and elsewhere in Melbourne, especially given the difficulty for musicians to make a living from music and the pressure of rising rental and venue operation costs?
Coming from Brisbane, I am astounded at the amount and quality of live music in Melbourne in general, and Darebin is definitely one of the strongest areas. The danger is for the public to get complacent about that. However, most gigs I go to are very well attended, and I feel like Melbournians really value music as an important part of the rich culture here.
