Big line-up signs up to help out in Connecting Song

GEELONG music royalty Adalita, Mick Thomas and Mark Wilson have signed up to mentor the next generation of unsigned Geelong musicians through Connecting Song.

In the place-based song-writing program run by the City of Greater Geelong, the successful emerging songwriters will celebrate a Geelong locality from across the city.

The three successful acts (either a solo, trio or bands) will work with the mentors to write and record their songs.

Each song will be recorded and a clip will be filmed and will be debuted at Geelong After Dark, the home-grown artistic exploration of inner city Geelong to be held on May 3, 2019.

Thomas said he began his career in music playing around Geelong in the 1980s.

“Back then, we were so concerned with what was going on down the highway in Melbourne, we often couldn’t see what was good about being in the place where we were – where you knew a great bunch of supportive local players, where you could get a rehearsal room cheaply and play regularly even if it was just to friends and family, and where there was a stack of interesting stuff to write about and you had access to all the surrounding areas as places to do regional shows and not spread yourself too thin.

“This program is a chance for some older heads to get together with some up-and-comers and pass on some thoughts about how to do things in a place like Geelong, and hopefully harness and feed off the energy of some budding careers.”

“There are many talented young musicians in our region, and this is a perfect opportunity for them to receive help and guidance from some of the ultimate professionals in the field,” Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“This program might even launch another up-and-coming Geelong local to stardom. I encourage anyone with a talent for songwriting to apply.”

For more information on Connecting Song and to apply, head to mountaintomouth.com.au.