An initiative of the Transport Accident Commission's youth programme Vanessa, Small Town Big Sound is a live music road tour of regional Victoria inspired by the colourful, late '70s Aussie pub rock scene.
Set to take place across six weekends (two towns per weekend), visiting the regions of Barwon, Mallee, Mornington, Grampians, Gippsland and Hume, each stop will feature a different set of three bands-artists plus local acts.Amyl And the Sniffers, Bad//Dreems and Camp Cope will perform as headliners two weekends each respectively.
Punters can expect a no-frills, all-thrills gigging experience, mirroring the live music scene 40-plus years ago when the nation's next-big blazing bands took to any venue, to play anywhere to earn their reputations.
"One of the silver-linings of the COVID cloud for us is the chance to get out and play more regional dates, which is something that we've always wanted to do, but have struggled to fit in," Bad//Dreems Alex Cameron says.
"A lot of our music deals with places and people outside of the city, so it's really important to us to take our music there. Living in a regional centre myself, I know how much people appreciate touring artists coming to town. Can't wait!"
Small Town Big Sound has also been designed as a road tour with a purpose, to carry Vanessa's 'pre-think before pre-drinks' message to young drivers across regional Victoria, while helping to re-invigorate live music across the state.
"If you're planning to have a drink, then planning a safe way home should be top priority and our Vanessa staff will be there to help you do that, and provide free breath tests," TAC Senior Manager, Engagement, Meg Jacobs says.
The tour will also visit schools in each region, hosting music workshops to inspire and inform budding young artists. Win-win folks.
Tickets on sale now.
Small Town Big Sound 2021 Line-Up
Alice SkyeAmyl And the Sniffers
Bad//Dreems
Birdz
Camp Cope
Elizabeth
Floodlights
Harmony Byrne
Kee'ahn
+ local acts
Barwon South West Region
Bad//Dreems
Floodlights
Kee'ahn
+ local supports
Fri 16 Apr - Point Lonsdale Boardriders Club
Sat 17 Apr - Koroit Theatre
Mornington/Bass Coast Region
Bad//Dreems
Floodlights
Kee'ahn
+ local supports
Fri 23 Apr - Westernport Hotel (San Remo)
Sat 24 Apr - Rye Hotel (Rye)
Loddon Mallee Region
Camp Cope
Birdz
Elizabeth
+ local supports
Fri 30 Apr - Theatre Royal (Castlemaine)
Sat 1 May - Golden Vine Hotel (Bendigo)
Grampians Region
Camp Cope
Birdz
Elizabeth
+ local supports
Fri 7 May - The Eastern (Ballarat)
Sat 8 May - Pomonal Community Hall (Pomonal)
Gippsland Region
Amyl And the Sniffers
Harmony Byrne
Alice Skye
+ local supports
Fri 14 May - Riverview Hotel (Tarwin Lower)
Sat 15 May - The Marlo Hotel (Marlo)
Hume Region
Amyl And the Sniffers
Harmony Byrne
Alice Skye
+ local supports
Fri 21 May - Delatite Hotel (Mansfield)
Sat 22 May - The Wandi Pub (Wandi)
