WHO is Ivy Black and what is the connection to Swan Hill?
It’s not a person, but a band. And the members of the up-and-coming alternative funk punk group originally hail from the Swan Hill region.
The high-energy group will join a line-up of 14 other acts featuring in the Summerwave 2024 music festival, at Atkinson Park in Kerang from noon on Saturday.
It’s a unique event where local youth are involved in the planning, from concept to marketing.
They have been the decision-makers, with assistance from Northern District Community Health youth programs co-ordindator Matt Allan and youth program assistant Molly Meadows.
It is a fully supervised event that is alcohol, smoke and drug-free.
There will also be other activities to keep everyone entertained, including rock-climbing, photo booths and airbrush tattoos, which are all included in the festival ticket price.
Ivy Black lead singer Shannon Bishop, a social worker, said the group had its first practice in 2021 and played their first gig in 2022.
“Originally, all five of us were from Swan Hill or the surrounding districts,” Bishop said.
“We had a line-up change in the beginning of last year and now we are all based down in Geelong.
“We love every opportunity to play in regional Victoria.
As a bonus for Bishop, the headline act will be one of her musical heroes, Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive, performing under the stage name Hevenshe.
