Program Highlights 2010

Sweethearts

Sweethearts are based at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, Victoria, Australia, where members can study Certificate IV in music, the highest musical qualification available in any school in Australia. They are the only school based band in the world that operates in professional settings. The girls have received accolades over three tours of Europe. They have played the prestigious Montreux Jazz and Poretta Soul Music festivals twice. They’ve also captivated audiences at the Luzerne Blues Festival and Parma Summer Festival.

Westpac Diversity stage 12.15pm

Tunog Kawayan Cultural Group

The Angklung is a musical instrument made out of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved so that they have a resonant pitch when struck. The base of the frame is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side producing a corresponding musical note. Each angklung performer in an ensemble plays just one note and when they angklung performers combine their nots, complete melodies are produced. The Tunog Kawayan Cultural Group will perform 3 musical pieces which reflect the faces of the community:Waltzing Matilda (Australian) Sole Mio (Italian) Leron Leron Sinta Medley (Filipino)

MatchWorks West Park stage 3.55pm

John-Luke Shelley & High Speed Steel

Displaying a distinctive 'Blues Rock' sound, the John-Luke Shelley & High Speed Steel line-up has been wowing their audiences for over a year now with skilled command of the "rocking blues" style, performing regularly around Victoria, Melbourne and Geelong.
The beginnings of High Speed Steel were in 2003 when a very young John-Luke and his father Brett were living in beautiful North-East Victoria. They were joined by Tim Hancock to form a Folk/Blues High Speed Steel and the Trio gigged locally until 2006, when John-Luke and Brett moved to Geelong. Times change, sounds evolve, new creative input alters ... here we are now at the high-energy, unique, rocking blues style of High Speed Steel, with a line-up consisting of: John-Luke Shelley – Lead Guitarist & Vocals, Mick Field – Bass Guitar, Jared Shay – Drums and Percussion, Brett Shelley – Lead/rhythm guitarist & Vocals.

Petrel Hotel Stage 3pm

Asha’s Bollywood Dance

Bring out your Bollywood Groove! Get fit and have fun with Asha’s Bollywood dance. Inspired from the largest film industry in the world, this exciting new dance form fuses classical indian, folk, bhangra, disco and contemporary moves to get your body moving! Asha has over 15 years experience in Bollywood Dance and performed in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Geelong.

Dance & Workshop Channel 7 stage 2.30pm.

Cantiamo Insieme’

‘Cantiamo Insieme’ means Let’s Sing Together. The choir is an Italian singing group that is part of Club Italia Geelong. ‘Cantiamo Insieme’ has been performing for approximately 10 years, and has been invited to perform at many nursing homes throughout Geelong as well as some other private functions over the years. In a year the choir performs over twenty times. The choir sings traditional as well as current Italian songs and encourages the audience to sing along!

MatchWorks West Park Stage 3.40pm

Cold Snap – House Rockin’ Chicago Blues

Since its formation Cold Snap wasted no time in stamping its authority on the Melbourne blues scene as one of the premier Chicago Blues bands in town. Its members are seasoned musicians who have been in the music scene for over 30 years. At their gigs they hit the town running with their first track and don’t let up for a minute the entire night with the punters out of their seats, on their feet and the whole joint jumpin’!
Band members: Joe Valenti – Vocals/Guitars Sonia Valenti – Vocals/Saxaphone Ken Maling – Saxaphone Jan Stephenson – Lead/Rhythm/Slide Guitars Darren West – Bass Jeff Pickard – Drums.

Petrel Hotel Stage 4pm

Cook Islands Royal Polynesian Dance Group

High energy, speed and vibrancy are one of the spectacular aspects of Cook Islander drumming and dance culture. This contrasts with the slower and circular dance forms from neighbouring Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga and Samoa.

MatchWorks West Park Stage 5.30pm.

Kalinka Dance Company Inc.

Kalinka delights Australian audiences with vibrant and exhilarating performances of Russian dance. Dancing skills displayed are at a professional level winning the 1998 and 2005 Vic Ethnofest competitions. Luba Baksheev is the artistic director, teacher and choreographer who has taught and examined at the Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian Ballet School. Classes and rehearsals are held at Russian House in Fitzroy, and classes are open to the general public as well as members.

Westpac Diversity Stage 4.25pm

Los Mas Altos (‘rock’ in Spanish)

Formed in 2007, this is a 7 member band that plays rock music in Spanish. There is a long tradition of rock music in Latin-America and Spain, and they pay homage to it by performing covers of very popular songs. 2010 is a very important year for Mexico, as it celebrates its Bicentenary of Independence.

Westpac Diversity Stage 5.20pm

MADHOUSE

An 8 piece, brass driven party band with a range of sounds influenced by the early 80's U.K. R&B /ska/reggae scene, will literally belt out a great set of classics hits from the 80’s, 90’s & now. Guaranteed to get you hot ‘n sweaty on the dance floor. When these guys hit the stage, anything could happen!

Barking Dog Stage 4pm

McAlpine’s Fusiliers

McAlpine’s Fusiliers are five young lads who have been drawn to old music- expanding upon the traditions of Irish and Australian roots music to form an intoxicating brew of original music. Taking their name from the Dominic Behan song ‘McAlpine’s Fusiliers’ that celebrates the trails and tribulations of migrant workers, the band draws upon traditional sources such as The Dubliners and The Chieftains and combines them with more contemporary influences such as The Clash & AC/DC.

Barking Dog stage 1pm

Stringybark McDowell

In the current popularity of slide guitar and foot percussion comes a man who ’s been doing it for nearly 20 years. Quietly influential to many, yet influenced by the old blues masters and man more modern day hero’s, Stringy has a raw edged sound of his own, sometimes compared to early Captain Beefheart, he can be a bit Tom Waitsy, Raw & Swampy or Fingerpick it up in a pretty way. Original creator of country blues band Muddy Puddles who toured rural Australia for years whooping it up for the punters. Stringy now performs as a one man band playing Acoustic & Electric guitars, including his famous Diddley Bow, Raw gritty vocals, “Doof Doof” the 14” kick drum, “Lefty” a homemade snarey highhatty rattle and a bit of rack harp and kazoo.

Petrel Hotel stage 2pm

Geelong Sings

From Creativity Australia comes ‘Geelong Sings’, an amazing community choir that involves members of the general public and employees from various city businesses, disadvantaged people and migrants (especially unemployed ones). The choir rehearses regularly and performances are scheduled for special events. The choir provides a unique opportunity for participants to improve self esteem, develop leadership potential and use their voices to be heard. It is a way for employed members to reach out to unemployed and disadvantaged people, to provide direct support and help others achieve what you may take for granted – a secure job and a place in mainstream society.'It’s only an hour but it’s one of the most joyful moments of my week' Peter, company director. To find out more about Geelong Sings, please email: enquiries@creativityaustralia.org.au.

Bethel Church 12pm

Sweet Mona’s Choir

The choir started in 1996 when a student choir was developed to teach singing as an approach to teaching voice skills in a Performing Arts course. This was the beginning point that set in motion what has become one of Victoria’s leading and most renowned community choirs. And in thirteen years Sweet Mona’s Choir has grown to become an embodiment of the remarkable power of community art.

Bethel Church 4.20pm

Tim Tim

TimTim is an entertainer presenting circus based comedy for adults and children, as well as roving performances. He has performed at all kinds of event, from small kid's parties to large outdoor spectaculars. His skills are balloonology, magic, juggling - knives, balls and other assorted objects, giant soap bubbles, solid bubbles, fire eating and breathing, lasso twirling, balancing skills, stiltwalking and acting.

Roving Performer

Tall Poppies

Tall Poppies are a larger than life comedy music duo. Performing on stilts in fab flower flavoured costumes, their highly engaging comedy skits, fun music and flower hats swaying to the songs are sure to make a splash at your next event.
You’ll hear a fun mix of up-beat Jazz and Latin , thigh-slapping Gypsy tunes, Aussie bush and some good ol’ country and all-time favourites …all with a touch of circus.

Roving Performer

Jazz Dogs

This pack of well groomed hounds will thrill you with their brand of hip & groovy sounds. The chunky tenor & fat barry saxophones, howl out cool tunes to snappy rhythms.These dogs have pedigree, they are some of the finest music/street theatre performers in town. They will bring a smile to the most serious of faces. These well trained dogs have entertained many a human at events like the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix, Australian Tennis Open, Melbourne Arts Festivals, a variety of Corporate events & Shopping centre Openings.To have the participants of your next event, festival or function snapping their fingers & barking with laughter. Woof!Woof! Woof!

Roving Artists