By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE will be the host the final preliminary round of the FreeZa Battle of the Bands this coming Thursday, with five bands competing for a spot in the finals.
The event, which will run from 6-10.30pm at Healesville’s Memo Theatre on Thursday 15 August, will feature bands To Be Honest, Little Big, The Braves, Little Secrets and Cider Tree Kids.
Sean Dwyer from the Cider Tree Kids said the band, which formed at the beginning of the year, is looking forward to the event.
“We’ve been rehearsing a lot, getting a solid set list together – were pretty pumped,” he said.
Sean said the Battle of the Bands, which have been held in various events around the Yarra Ranges, offer a good alternative for those who don’t want to travel to the city to see bands perform.
“It’s an all-ages event, so it’s a really good opportunity for kids who can’t get into venues or pubs,” he said.
Each of the heats featured a particular genre theme – Healesville’s event is for indie, rock and alternative bands.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Participation and Engagement Officer and manager of the FreeZa program Sean Daly said the different genre events represent the diversity of music in the Yarra Ranges.
“The Yarra Ranges is a diverse area, with a lot of different families and interests,” he said.
“Our arts are diverse within that, and the music scene is no different – we have a lot of heavy, brutal bands but we also have organic, gentle indie roots stuff coming out as well.
“We thought it would be a fairer competition if we get the heavier bands playing against one another and having all of our acoustic artists together.”
The final event, where winners from each genre heat face off, will be held at Mooroolbark Community Centre on 30 August and each of the finalists will have a song recorded onto a compilation CD released on the night.
The Healesville Battle of the Bands show will be held at the Memo Theatre in Healesville from 6-10.30pm. Entry is $7 at the door.
For more information, call 9294 6716.
