Bellarine to host concert series

A NEW series of concerts across the Bellarine Peninsula aims to offer diverse genres of music in unique settings.

The Bellarine Sessions is being presented by the team behind the National Celtic Folk Festival and will be hosted in the peninsula’s small coastal towns and their surrounds.

“The locations will offer fresh experiences and staging for live music,” National Celtic Folk Festival director Una McAlinden said.

“Programming across a diverse range of music genres, to suit each venue, we will create events offering both audiences and artists an experience that is intimate, with real heart and vibrancy.

“In partnership with communities these events will offer new experiences and staging for live music.”

The first concert, to be held tomorrow (Saturday, October 28), is a joint venture with the Portarlington Cricket Club and will feature Rhiz & The Sugarplums with special guest Caity Alison.

Rhiz (Rhiannon McArthur) & The Sugarplums (Pete Daffy, Jordy Hickey and Mandy Keating) are a four-piece rockabilly/rock’n’roll/country band.

By working authentic 1950s-style feels into their original songs, Rhiz & The Sugarplums manage to revive an infectious genre of music from a long-gone era, capturing a rare nostalgic groove that is hard to resist.

This one-of-a-kind band will have you captivated with their harmony-filled country ballads one moment, and then have you up and grooving to old-school rock’n’roll the next.

Alison is a singer/songwriter from Geelong.

From a large family of classical string players, she studied music extensively her whole life.

By the age of 15, Catie had toured internationally as a folk cellist and recorded. Delving into songwriting, she discovered her love for arranging layers of vocals and instruments.

Now at 20, Catie has a playful yet often confrontational style of lyricism.

Meals will be served and the bar will be open from 6pm, with music to start at 7pm.

Entry is free but bookings are recommended.

The following concert will be held at BrewiColo Brewery in Ocean Grove on November 12 from 3-5pm, with Tim Scanlan and Mana Okubo.

Entry is free but bookings are recommended.

There will also be concerts held as part of the Northern Bellarine Arts Trail, with more details to come.

This project is presented by National Celtic Folk Festival and Regional Arts Victoria and several community organisations.

For more information or updates on the next concert, head to bellarinesessions.com.au