Paul Dempsey (of Something For Kate),Missy Higgins and Sophie Payten (aka Gordi) are among the musicians performing around Victoria over the next fortnight as part of the Sounds Better Together concert series.Credit:Justin McManus
Kicking off on Saturday with two regional shows – Tones and I,Missy Higgins,Gordi and Didirri at Mt Duneed Estate near Geelong and Jimmy Barnes,The Teskey Brothers and Vika and Linda at Rochford Estate in the Yarra Valley – the series will culminate on January 30 with a concert on the oval at Mallacoota,the coastal town ravaged by bushfires last summer.
Five shows have been announced so far,with Gudinski aiming to reveal up to 20 more acts and a host of additional venues later this week."I’ve got a few rabbits in my hat,"the veteran promoter promised at the Prince,where Something For Kate will play on Sunday.
All shows will be COVID-safe – with reduced capacity,allocated seating and digital ticketing,as well as mask-wearing and sanitiser stations on site – at a ticket price of $49.90.
Tourism,Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula hailed the concerts as"a wonderful return for our live music industry,which has been really affected by COVID over the last 12 months,but just as importantly a boon for regional communities'.
Had things played out differently,Sophie Payten (aka Gordi) would have spent 2020 playing songs recorded on her family’s property in rural NSW throughout Europe,Australia and the United States. Instead,having heard that the US was closing its borders while she was in the BBC studios in London,she beat a hasty retreat to Australia.
All together now:Missy Higgins,Paul Dempsey and Gordi with (front row) Howard Freeman (founder of road crew organisation Crew Care),Michael Gudinski and Martin Pakula.Credit:Justine McManus
"My entire year was just gone in an instant,"said the 28-year-old,who has a second career as a doctor."So I recalibrated."