SUMMERWAVE, the music festival created by young people in the Gannawarra Shire, has an incredible roster of talent ready to perform on Saturday November 20 at Atkinson Park in Kerang.
Matt Allan, the youth health promotion worker from Northern District Community Health who coordinated the festival, said he was impressed by those involved in Summerwave, both on and off the stage.
“We have Taylor Henderson as our headlining act, who gained fame through Australia’s Got Talent,” Mr Allan said.
“He had a hit with Borrow My Heart, and has built up a following across the country.”
Other acts include DJ Tamara, One More Weekend, Colour Court, Stone & Wood, The Kid Toli, Sparkzo, Tynan, The Known, Young Furo, Mikala McNeill, Sophie Kelly, Jenna Conlan, Elias Lanyon, Bangas & Mash, and Buddy Boyd.
These musicians and bands not only perform in a variety of genres, Mr Allan said, but they are also from the local area.
“These acts are homegrown talent from Kerang, Cohuna, Sea Lake, Swan Hill, Wedderburn, Echuca,” he said.
“We have a few from Melbourne and Bendigo, but the main idea was to have local acts who may do acoustic music, or rap music, all come together so there’s something for everyone.”
Tynan Dove, who goes by the stage name ‘Tynan’, is a local rapper from Cohuna, and was one of the organisers of the festival, who are aged between 14-18.
The other festival co-ordinators included Taylah Clements, Kassidy Pearson, Deakin Fawcett, Lachie Stone and Aiden Konopka.
“There are so many skills they have picked up by working on Summerwave – marketing and promotion, event management, stage management, graphic design,” Mr Allan said.
“We have been working on this since February, either meeting at Northern District Community Health, or meeting online.
“It’s just been great for their confidence, and for the community, Summerwave is going to be something really new – it’s huge!”
In addition to music acts Summerwave will feature food trucks, spray painting workshops, mural painting, and exclusive merchandise.
Summerwave is recommended for audiences over the age of 12, however it has been advised that some acts may use explicit language.
All attendees over the age of 16 need to have proof of double vaccination.
The event is alcohol, drug and smoke free, and there will be security on site.
Summerwave is sponsored by The Victorian Government’s FReeZA Initiative; Northern District Community Health; Gannawarra Shire Council; Mixx FM; headspace Swan Hill; and Laneway Music.
The festival will run from 12pm to 1pm, and tickets are available online via Trybooking or www.ndch.org.au/events
