Following more than a year of isolation and multiple lockdowns, Vanessa today introduces Small Town Big Sound, a much-needed live music road tour coming to diverse areas of regional Victoria from April 16 through May 22. Across six weekends, the mighty touring festival will see artists like Alice Skye, Amyl and the Sniffers, Bad//Dreems, Birdz, Camp Cope, Kee’ahn, well-loved and historic venues in six regional areas, from Koroit to Wandi, Pomonal and more.
Vanessa, the Transport Accident Commission’s youth communication program, has been working for over 15 years to arm young people with the tools to make safe road decisions with zero judgement. True to the program’s long history of visiting music festivals, university events and more, Small Town Big Sound has been designed as a road tour with a purpose to carry Vanessa’s ‘pre-think before the pre-drinks message to young drivers across regional Victoria. The Vanessa crew will be present at each event on tour, encouraging attendees to have a ‘pre-think’, get breath tested, and take time to plan their safe journey home.
“We want everyone at Small Town Big Sound events to have a great time, but more importantly, we want everyone to make good choices and get home safely. If you’re planning to have a drink, then planning a safe way home should be a top priority, and our Vanessa staff will be there to help you do that and provide free breath tests,” says TAC Senior Manager, Engagement, Meg Jacobs.
Inspired by the colourful late 70s Aussie pub rock scene when some of the nation’s next-big blazing bands took to any venue, anywhere, expect a no-frills, all-thrills gigging experience when Small Town Big Sound makes its 2021 debut. Alongside evening shows, the tour will also visit a local secondary school in each region, hosting music-focussed workshops that will allow students to learn from participating artists on their time and tips from working in the industry via a Q&A panel discussion. Followed by a stripped-back performance by one of the acts, students will also be given a chance to participate in interactive sessions around songwriting, sound production, and the music business’s ins and outs, planting the seeds for the next crop of regional acts.
For regional Victorians, purchase tickets to the show of your choice via Small Town Big Sound, knowing the booking fee will go towards supporting a better start for disadvantaged Indigenous students. Countdown the days to live music’s return to regional Victoria, courtesy of some of Australia’s most exciting and thought-provoking acts at Small Town Big Sound, in times when it is needed most.
SMALL TOWN BIG SOUND
PRESENTED BY VANESSA (TAC)
MORE INFO HERE
FRIDAY, APRIL 16 & SATURDAY APRIL 17
BARWON SOUTHWEST REGION
BAD//DREEMS, FLOODLIGHTS, KEE’AHN + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 16 – POINT LONSDALE BOARDRIDERS CLUB, POINT LONSDALE – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, APRIL 17 – KOROIT THEATRE, KOROIT – TIX HERE
FRIDAY, APRIL 23 & SATURDAY, APRIL 24
MORNINGTON/BASS COAST REGION
BAD//DREEMS, FLOODLIGHTS, KEE’AHN + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 23 – WESTERNPORT HOTEL, SAN REMO – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 – RYE HOTEL, RYE – TIX HERE
FRIDAY, APRIL 30 & SATURDAY, MAY 1
LODDON MALLEE REGION
CAMP COPE, BIRDZ, ELIZABETH + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 30 – THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, MAY 1 – GOLDEN VINE HOTEL, BENDIGO – TIX HERE
FRIDAY, MAY 7 & SATURDAY, MAY 8
GRAMPIANS REGION
CAMP COPE, BIRDZ, ELIZABETH + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, MAY 7 – THE EASTERN, BALLARAT – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, MAY 8 – POMONAL COMMUNITY HALL, POMONAL – TIX HERE
FRIDAY, MAY 14 & SATURDAY, MAY 15
GIPPSLAND REGION
AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, HARMONY BYRNE, ALICE SKYE + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, MAY 14 – RIVERVIEW HOTEL, TARWIN LOWER – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, MAY 15 – THE MARLO HOTEL, MARLO – TIX HERE
FRIDAY, MAY 21 & SATURDAY, MAY 22
HUME REGION
AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, HARMONY BYRNE, ALICE SKYE + LOCAL SUPPORTS
FRIDAY, MAY 21 – DELATITE HOTEL, MANSFIELD – TIX HERE
SATURDAY, MAY 22 – THE WANDI PUB, WANDI – TIX HERE