The all ages scene in Melbourne has certainly had its ups and downs but anyone who can remember the glory days of the mid to late ’90s would have to admit that it was a great time to be into music and under age. “I don’t know if it’s just that my perspective has changed but when I was growing up playing in bands, playing in ska bands and the punk scene, there was so many venues and events for all ages,” adds Brown. “Like Midian, the Arthouse, the Evelyn used to have heaps of all ages events and community events as well and you could be 16-years-old and be playing in a band and have an audience. It’s more difficult to do that now.”
Although the musical landscape may have changed dramatically over the last decade or so, one constant has been Push Over. And once again, just like it does every year, the Push Over festival will host the best in home grown musical talent and more importantly provide an event that is under age friendly. The importance of which is certainly not lost on Brown. “It’s vital. You know like when you’re 14, 15, 16 – it’s a vital time in establishing who you are and what you listen to and for me, the stuff I was listening to then and the things I was picking up on, there are still sounds in the world that are alien to your ears when you’re 14 and you pick up on stuff you’ve never heard before and it can change your life. And that can still happen to anyone at any time but it’s just vital to be part of arts and music if you want to have that as part of your life. That time is really vital.”
For Brown, getting to be a part of an event like Push Over is a way of giving back and supporting a festival which played such a big role when he was underage. “I felt like I wanted to be part of the event – because I’ve been part of it before and recognise that its providing something pretty vital to Australian music.”
Eagle And The Worm have spent most of their summer travelling the country side on the festival circuit, playing to thousands of people at festivals such as Meredith and Woodford. For a band that seems so at home and so well suited to the festival format, the experience they have gained over recent times has been invaluable. “It did take some time to work up a festival set and get the experience to be playing well to a festival crowd,” admits Brown. “I reckon a good band works their show up. I guess it’s a different kind of interaction with an audience when you’re playing in front of 5,000 people or when you’re playing in front of 300 people.”
And with a sound that suits the atmosphere and vibe of most festivals down to a tee, it’s a fair bet that the band will become regulars at such events across the country. “One of the cool things that translates about having a band like Eagle and The worm with all the people on stage is that before you even start, visually there’s so much to engage in,” says Brown. “And there’s so much opportunity for us to do so many things, there’s so many instruments at our disposal, so it’s something that we’ve enjoyed.”
BY JAMES W NICOLI
