Matt Hewson
Get ready to have your Lindy well and truly hopped when the region’s newest jazz orchestra debuts at Blackman’s Brewery this month.
Newly formed community ensemble Surf Coast Big Band will perform two in the popular Torquay venue’s beer garden, kicking off at 2pm on Sunday, September 15.
The 18-piece band boasts full saxophone, brass and rhythm sections and will feature well-known local performer Mark Huglin on vocals, performing classic big band repertoire from the 30s and 40s as well as jazzed up versions of more contemporary songs.
The band was formed at the beginning of this year by music director and trombonist Oier Salegui, who is originally from the Basque region in the north-east of Spain.
A lifelong musician, Salegui said when he and his wife moved to the Surf Coast in 2017 with their one-year-old daughter he had stopped playing to focus on his family.
With his children now a little older, he felt it was time to get the trombone out of its case once more.
“Last year I joined the Bellarine Big Band, and they had a good relationship with the Lara Big Band, sharing, helping each other,” he said.
“That inspired me, it made me think if these guys were able to set up big bands in Portarlington and Lara, well, we should be able to do something similar on the Surf Coast.”
To that end, Salegui put out the feelers on social media.
According to band secretary Chas McPhail the response from people of all ages and experience levels was overwhelming.
“We had about 12 bass players put their hands up, quite a few drummers; it didn’t take us too long to get a full big band together,” McPhail said.
“We’re a community focused thing, so we just encourage all players to come along, give it a try and see if they like it, and we can work from there. It’s fun, it’s really good fun.”
Salegui said everyone in the band was excited to show the community, and especially their loved ones, what they had achieved with hard work throughout the year.
“I honestly can’t believe it’s happening; we are all super excited and looking forward to playing this first one, it’s going to be special for us,” he said.
