Remember these faces as another round of Adelaide’s best, unsigned acts take the Umbrella Festival stage for Scouted 2018.
Curated by Music SA and Sundial Productions, Scouted showcases a handful of “export-ready” local acts, according to event organiser Joel Byrne.
It’s also a place for interstate bookers and industry taste-makers to come and check out what Adelaide has to offer. Last year, one of the booking agents at Groovin The Moo attended the inaugural showcase and handpicked several acts for the local line-up at GTM Wayville 2018 including Young Offenders, Electric Fields and MANE.
Joel warns other interstate visitors not to underestimate the talent that lies within the “sleeping giant” that is Adelaide. “We’re not really taken that seriously. Everyone is surprised that there’s stuff going on in Adelaide and I’d like to tell industry people, don’t be surprised, it’s just as good if not better what’s happening.”
Also among the 2017 Scouted alumni was Heaps Good Friends, who released their debut EP 'Hug Me' in March, and DyspOra, who was initially “pretty coy about wanting to be known as a solo artist”. “Seeing him perform at Groovin this year warmed my heart,” Joel says.
“Having a personal connection to these artists and seeing the fruits of their labour yield some pretty awesome opportunities for them, it’s great.”
This year’s diverse Scouted offering includes alt-country temptresses Hana & Jessie-Lee, indie-rockers Donnarumma and garage-pop gal-pals Wing Defence.
Click here to read the complete line-up, including scenestr's own stage.
While the performers are all unsigned, they’re not inexperienced. To make the cut, they need to have the strong foundation of a polished live presence, touring experience and the beginnings of a fan base. “The worst thing for us would be to present a band that wasn’t ready,” Joel says.
“We can’t put someone on there that has a good song, because where do they go to from that?”
Instead, punters can catch a glimpse of some of the next-big-things in Australian music. “These are all acts that you’re going to start seeing on the national stage, so don’t sleep on it,” Joel says.
“Get in, see them now, because at some point they’re going to be that act you remember singing to just a few people. It’s going to be a great feeling when you see them emerge and become big acts in Australia.”
