Bellarine teen leads charge for Tones and I gig

A BELLARINE teenager is hoping to bring Australian singer-songwriter Tones and I to the region for an intimate acoustic show as part of the musician’s We Want Tones tour series.

The performer, best known for her 2019 breakout hit Dance Monkey, has been hosting pop-up gigs in small towns and venues across Australia for several months, travelling to locations put forward by her fans.

Last month, the Torquay community was successful in bringing the artist to the coastal town, launching a Facebook page that quickly gained more than 300 followers.

Tickets to the January 24 show at the Torquay Hotel were in hot demand, selling out in just three minutes.

On the Bellarine, the Torquay pop-up has inspired 19-year-old Abbey Hodgson to increase her own efforts to encourage her favourite musician to make her way to the peninsula.

Abbey’s Facebook group “Tones & I come to the Bellarine Peninsula”, which was launched in November, has already grown a following of more than 660 people.

She hoped Tones and I would see the level of interest on the Bellarine for a performance and add one into her We Want Tones tour schedule.

“A Tones show in my hometown would mean the absolute world to me,” Abbey said.

“For her to put on a show, here on the Bellarine, the place I call home, would be the most surreal experience, especially knowing I was the one who initiated it.

“She’s not just my favourite artist; she’s my idol, my inspiration and someone who has saved my life in more ways than I can count.

“[Her music] has carried me through my darkest moments and reminded me that I am strong enough to keep going. When life has felt hard and I’ve questioned my own worth, her lyrics have been a source of comfort, telling me I am enough, that I have a purpose, and that I can rise above anything.”