ENTERTAINMENT – Young bands on journey to Oz

Erin Pearson
YOUNG metal, hardcore and rock talent from around the Geelong region will have the chance to perform with some of the country’s top bands next month.
The local bands will have the chance to perform alongside their idols on an Escape To OZ tour when it visits Geelong as part of a FReeZACentral program.
The tour comprises a collection of big names as well as support bands involved in FReeZACentral’s 2010 program for mentoring and touring.
Tour spokesperson Laura Miller encouraged local bands to apply for the program’s competition to win a place playing on the Geelong leg of the tour.
“It’s a good, professional development opportunity for young people looking to break into the (music) industry,” she said.
“Bands have the opportunity to work with some of Australia’s top heavy and rock bands such as House Vs Hurricane, The Deep End and Heroes for Hire.
“Anyone looking for more experience in the industry should really apply.”
Miller said three young regional bands would win opportunities to join the tour.
Bands who wanted to enter the competition should email their biographies to freezacentral@thepush.com.au, she said.
FReeZACentral would announce band competition winners next Friday.
Miller said winners would also be eligible to then apply for FReeZA’s mentoring positions.
Mentors would travel with bands and work with “small-town talent” to help foster new music while compiling an annual CD, she said.
The forthcoming FReeZACentral 2010 Escape To Oz compilation CD features young emerging acts Ayera, The Deep End, Legacy and Exo Majesty alongside their mentoring bands Carpathian, Jonesez, Pete Sounds and Walk The Earth.
Miller said many members of the mentor program hailed from the Geelong region.
“Gracie Hesta, from Colac, is a part of the Naked in the Woods CD compilation, which stemmed from the FReeZA program,” Miller said.
“Event management mentor Laurie Hamilton-Grundy is from Ocean Grove, technical mentor Sam Lambert is from Belmont and performance mentor Izzy Losi is from Geelong.”
Miller said the mentor program would run a workshop and application process in September following the Escape To Oz tour.
The tour will feature three all-ages events in late August around Victoria, with Geelong West Town Hall hosting a concert on August 28.