Keeping music aLIVE in Portarlington

TWO local musicians have conjured up a new monthly entertainment night in Portarlington, offering locals a different way to get their musical fix.

The Bellarine Muso’s Den, which operates once a month out of the Portarlington Football Netball Club rooms, provides residents and musicians an alternative method of listening to and participating in live music.

Den co-organiser Jeff Cairns said the demand for a live music venue rose from the closure of local entertainment venues, with musicians in and around Portarlington searching for forums to perform in.

“I’ve been a muso since the 70s and I met up with a chap named Ian Amor, whose music career is perhaps five to 10 years longer than mine.

“I moved to Portarlington in 2016 after living in Ballarat and in March, Ian and I crossed paths and we got to chatting wondering where bands and musos could perform nearby.

“You have the St Leonards Pub and Saints & Sailors is gone now, so there is practically nowhere to hear live music around town, so we both became keen on doing something about this and giving something back to the community.

“We put our heads together and decided to host a monthly jam session for the first time in May and it was a major hit.”

The first Bellarine Muso’s Den Jam Session welcomed Sweet Judy and The Casuals to be the inaugural headline act on May 19, with a second jam session taking place on June 16.

The third and next Bellarine Muso’s Den Jam Session will take place on July 14.

“It has started off really well and with more and more people getting wind of this event, we always welcome volunteers and musicians to register their interest,” Mr Cairns said.

“We also share a portion of the profits from each jam session with the Shedding The Blues program run out of Queenscliff, who do a great job of running their own jam session of sorts.

“It really helps people discuss their problems and continue their love of music at the same time, so we’re extremely happy to help out in this regard.”

Entry to the Bellarine Muso’s Den Jam Session next month is $10 and begins at 2pm.

For more details on the jam session, head to [email protected]