LIVING MUSIC SHOWCASE: CHOICE AS TO ROCK FRINGE 2012

LIVING MUSIC SHOWCASE: CHOICE AS ‘Raw, real and beautiful…’’ ‘Out there talent.’ ‘Brilliant collaboration. ‘Authenticity.’ - Audience comments from last year’s Living Music show ‘No Place Like Home’ * HIGHLY COMMENDED Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards 2011* REVOLT - 12 Elizabeth St Kensington - Melbourne Fringe Venue of the Year 2011 27-28 September – (Thurs 27 Sept 6pm & Fri 28 Sept 3pm & 6pm) Living Music Showcase: Choice As is an original Fringe debut that mashes up music, multimedia and theatre, written and performed by participants as young as fourteen. Many of them have been facing family violence, uncertain housing and youth detention. Some songs were actually written inside Victorian Youth Justice Centres Malmsbury and Parkville Precinct. Last year, Living Music’s show won a Highly Commended Music gong at Fringe, and 2012’s Choice As is sounding just as impressive. Come witness how even the hardest road can rise, with music, in one of the three Living Music Showcase: Choice As shows at REVOLT in Kensington 27-28 September.

Living Music’s highly effective youth mentorship program has been operating since 1999 under artistic director Andrew McSweeney, himself a singer/songwriter/producer. Mentors like indie hip hop producer Julez (discovered byTriple J’s Unearthed in 2008) help fledgling artists build confidence and see new possibilities through self-expression, enterprise, teamwork and accomplishment. The standard is high. McSweeney and a range of other muso mentors like Pete Satchell (Dallas Crane), Thomas Butt and MC Pat Marks (Pataphysics) have helped nurture great songs from Living Music Showcase: Choice As contributors like nineteen year old Big Bear, whose ‘Back Then’ - so honest it shocks - is moving and melodic with its straying piano, strings and beats. Lil Darcy’s audacious ‘One In 7 Billion’ (featuring Toxman and Julez) throws up lyrics like ‘shark’s meat’, ‘fresh allegations’ and ‘voice box is under persuasion’ over organ grinder keyboards and loping horns. There’s a big slice of Islander R&B from various participants; stories that reach out with humour, honesty and verve. Living Music Showcase: Choice As also features film and projections, with participants in the thick of it, getting skilled-up. Fourteen-year-old Lil Darcy: ‘When I was in Parkville [Youth Justice Precinct], which is like a boys’ home, they gave me the number for Living Music. It’s a good program. I’m pretty pleased with my producer Julez; he’s the best.’ Other mentors working on Living Music Showcase: Choice As include writers Simon McSweeney and Rebecca Lister, Dan Ryan kicking in with film and visual arts, and movement expert Dominique Miller.

Living Music Showcase: Choice Is CONTAINS GRIT HOPE AND INVENTION: HANDLE WITH CARE. Focus issues: social issues, youth, justice system, multimedia, music, education. Enquiries LIVING MUSIC Ph 03 9329 0503 Fax 03 9329 7857 53 Little Baillie St, North Melbourne PO Box 880, North Melbourne 3051 Email andrew@livingmusic.com.au Living Music including First Sunday All Ages Open Mic at REVOLT livingmusic.com.au/ The Living Music Radio 3CR Mondays 3-4pm livingmusic.com.au/gateway-music Living Music is a part of Living Learning Australia which assists the development of disadvantaged young learners through cooperation in artistic, environmental and community building endeavours.