Playing to their own tune

AN acoustic guitar and piano-accordion accompaniment fill the empty space of the hall beside the Neill Street Uniting Church.

Folk music bounces across the walls and into the kitchen, and the formerly quiet room comes alive to the sound of crooning vocals and striking chords.

Arthur Trevaskis has led the Amateur Musicians group for half a decade, and with pandemic restrictions lifted, he is ready to fill its numbers once more.

The collective meets regularly at the Neill Street Church Hall to play folk tunes and acoustic songs either solo or as a group.

“It’s not a commercial venture or anything, it’s just a bunch of friends that get together,” Trevaskis said.

“We just need some more friends.”

With sets limited and everyone just wanting to play, Trevaskis said the group only looks to reach about a dozen members in order to allow each person ample time to perform.

The number is flexible, and once the group is filled their meetings will become bi-monthly, taking place on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.

Trevaskis said the group’s regular meeting serves as a haven for performers who don’t wish to take the stage in front of an audience, and is also ideal for those just wishing to hone their craft.

Piano-accordionist Alma Knight has been a member for over two years and said the meet ups have been key in helping her gain confidence with the instrument.

A donation jar is provided at each meeting, and members have the option to contribute funds to the local church as a way to say thanks for providing the venue.

With membership dwindling during the last two years, Trevaskis is intent on rekindling the group as a supportive hub for musicians just wanting to socialise and have fun with their art.

“We know there’s a lot of people that sit at home and play on their own,” he said. “They’re the people who would benefit the most from this.”