Speaking to Drive Live project manager and producer Cam Durnsford, the aim is to spotlight widely respected artists alongside those that are still on the rise. “It’s always been the idea that there’s a couple of relatively well known, big names that get the attention of people,” he says. “But it’s also an opportunity to showcase some of the more emerging talent.”
Durnsford works with the station’s five drive time announcers to pull the Drive Live lineup together. “They kind of hit me with a wish list and I put a light touch of curation on the top of that or occasionally suggest things I think would be great for their programs,” he says. The event kicks off on Monday afternoon’s Zen Arcade with Taipan Tiger Girls, friendships and Mollusc. On Tuesday afternoon, Mixing Up The Medicine welcomes in The Drones, who’re due to release a new album any day now. Without overshadowing the other acts involved, getting them on board is a hell of a coup.
“This is my second year running Drive Live and as a big personal fan of the band it was something that I’d always wanted to see happen here,” Durnsford says. “They have done live to airs at PBS in the past and Gareth [Liddiard] did a solo set at Drive Live about four or five years ago. But it’s always been one that we’ve had on our wish list so were pretty happy when that came together.”
For those living in the music-centric bubble that is Melbourne, The Drones are seriously big news. But even so, they’re not taking over the entire Tuesday instalment. Local punk bands Deaf Wish and Deep Heat will join them.
“They’re both great bands as well,” says Durnsford. “They’re not bands that those in the know are the only ones into – Deaf Wish have got a record out on Sub Pop for Christ’s sake. So they’re kind of a big deal in their own right. Certainly within the punk scene I’d say that Deep Heat are probably one of the best bands in Melbourne. So that day in particular is going to be huge. Already the response has been massive. Really, really looking forward to that one.”
There are plenty of highlights throughout the remainder of the program. On Wednesday, The Afterglow plays host to Terrible Truths, Sui Zhen and Jess Ribeiro – three acts that had an especially busy 2015 and seem on the cusp of a broader explosion.
“That’s not necessarily a bill that you’d see at a venue,” Durnsford says. “You can say that for any of the days – there’s a little bit of a tendency towards a style of music or a couple of styles of music, but there’s not a conventional three-band bill.”
Fang It! turns up the volume on Thursday with Batpiss, Wet Lips and Grotto; and on Friday’s Stone Love, Little Desert, Waterfall Person and Drug Sweat are bringing it home. “A big part of what it’s about is representing our local scene,” says Durnsford. “And capturing what we and our announcers consider to be the best bands in Melbourne at that particular time.”
Many of the participating artists have benefitted from the support of PBS throughout their existence. The station’s constant support for local and independent music means it’s not too difficult to get the artists on board.
“For a lot of the bands we get in for Drive Live they’re familiar with the station. It’s a cliché but it’s true: for a lot of local artists community radio is their first foray into things like interviews and live to airs and airplay. Because we’re at the grassroots and because a fairly substantial part of our membership base is performers, people want to do it for us. I think this is the sixth year we’ve run Drive Live, so it’s become an event that people also are aware of and it’s on the calendar in the Melbourne music scene.”
All five days of Drive Live are free to enter and open to anyone (though an email is required to secure your place). The nature of the event provides a novel experience for both performers and punters. “It’s always a good time because it’s weird, the way the performances happen in the studios behind glass but then there’s a crowd in watching it. It’s an unusual scenario for people to take part in.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
