Comfy concerts

THE next series of the popular children’s Cushion Concerts begins at The Capital on Saturday 22 June.

Organisers are not yet naming the event’s main attraction, but promise it will be a fine example of the long-running concerts’ primary aim of introducing young children to the performing arts – specifically music.

Run by Bendigo Venues and Events, Cushion Concerts are a series of live performances for children by local as well as internationally recognised musicians. They are affordable and presented in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Cushion Concerts are primarily held at The Capital’s Bendigo Bank Theatre and feature music that is stimulating for young listeners. Each concert is unlike the last and performances are under 40 minutes.

Children can bring a cushion (or borrow one), as well as a teddy and a snack. If they need to move around to get a better view, want to dance or stretch out on the floor, that’s fine as well.

City of Greater Bendigo arts officer Rohan Phillips said the series had now notched up more than 100 performances.

“It’s really about trying to make a first live performance a really positive experience,” he said.

“The programming tries to reflect the variety of live performers we get here at The Capital.”

That variety in the past has included brass bands, solo piano, folk artists, Indonesian performers, singer-songwriters and an exploratory music festival.

Mr Phillips said the concerts had been popular, with as many as 70 children being present at each instalment.

The concerts began in 2013, celebrating their 10th anniversary in November last year, and are held once a month on various days – from Mondays to Saturdays – at 10.30am.

Tickets are just $5 per child, with one accompanying adult, and can be booked through bendigoregion.com.au.

The Coming to a Cushion Concert book, written and illustrated by Liz Duthie and designed by Jacqui Lynch, will again be available for $5.

The remaining dates for this year are Tuesday 16 July, Friday 9 August, Thursday 12 September, Wednesday 9 October, Saturday 9 November, and Wednesday 4 December.