Moree residents of all ages will have the opportunity to attend a live music event in their own backyard next month when three up-and-coming artists perform at Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM).
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The No-Fi Takes Moree event is the brainchild of St Philomena's School teacher Jonathan McCallum who wanted to bring a taste of his music passion to Moree, after moving here from Newcastle in 2017.
"When I decided to move to Moree, I thought 'how can I continue doing things I'm passionate about, which is bringing accessible music events to people'," he said.
"I'm good friends with the people who run No-Fi Collective, whose main focus is to provide a platform for artists to perform in Newcastle who usually wouldn't have the means or access to crucial grassroots support.
"I've helped put on house shows with bands performing in people's houses."
Fuelled by a desire to bring more independent and original music to Moree, McCallum successfully gained funding from MusicNSW to put on an all-ages, drug and alcohol-free event in Moree.
So he got in touch with his friends at No-Fi Collective, and together they have put together a line-up of three up-and-coming acts who are set to perform in the BAMM garden on Saturday, June 1.
"Moree's got a great cover band scene, which is great, but I'm passionate about trying to bring more original acts to town," he said.
"It's been really fun to get off the ground and bring some of the stuff that I love in Newcastle to where I am now."
Headlining the No-Fi Takes Moree event is Nooky, an Aboriginal rapper from Sydney who is signed with BRIGGS' record label, Bad Apples Music, which also represents A.B. Original.
Also on the line-up is RAAVE TAPES, an indie dancepunk band from Newcastle, and Rebecca Hatch, an Aboriginal and Samoan R&B/Soul singer songwriter from Sydney who was the 2017 Triple J Indigenous Unearthed High winner at the National Indigenous Music Awards.
Moree's own Demi Thorburn, a year 10 student at St Philomena's, will open the show, following a performance by St Philomena's Gamilaraay dance group.
With a mixture of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists performing, the event, which falls within National Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) has been added to Moree's Reconciliation Week calendar and is all set to end the week with a bang.
"When the line-up came together, I thought it is a great example of the ideals of reconciliation," McCallum said.
"It's a good representation of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists coming together to create something beautiful."
Although No-Fi Takes Moree will appeal to a more younger crowd, McCallum said all ages are welcome, with something to appeal to everyone.
"I really think there is something on that line-up for anyone to get around," he said.
"This a great opportunity to see artists who are really fantastic and wouldn't have the opportunity to visit many regional areas until later in their career when they're bigger.
"Getting this funding has been a real Godsend. It means these artists can expose themselves to a regional audience who normally wouldn't have access to go and see them perform. It's a different experience. Come along and try something new."
Tickets are just $10 and will be available at the door.
McCallum wanted to keep prices low to make this event accessible to everyone, regardless of age or class status.
"I think this is a good price that will let the most people who want to be here, be here," he said.
"It's not about whether I can break even or make money. I want this to happen and this is how I can make it the best experience for people.
"If a few people come and have a good time and I get to bring some of my friends from Newcastle to Moree and they get to see what a great town it is, I'll be happy."
No-Fi Takes Moree will be held at BAMM from 4.30pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 1. For more information, go to the No-Fi Takes Moree Facebook event.
