By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Valley ECOSS is getting busy heading out of winter and into springtime, starting with an exciting edition of their Festive Market this week.
On Friday 19 August, the sixth ECOSS Festive Market is bringing together an exciting four-pronged female youth artist showcase and an exploration of Italian Culture from 3.30pm.
Executive Officer Chelsea McNab said they’ve gathered some amazing young talents from the Yarra Valley.
“We were really lucky to get some funding both from Creative Victoria and VicHealth so every third Friday of the month during the market, we’re going to offer a different multicultural food tasting alongside a performance of that culture, with this Friday being Italian,” she said.
“It’s about engaging kids in healthy eating and exploring multiculturalism and giving people, mainly kids, an experience of different cultures.”
From 4pm to 5pm, Francesca Ronalds will be giving an Italian cooking demonstration during the market, while Chris Morants gives a roaming children’s performance. These two events will be free of charge.
From 5pm, tickets are available to watch the youth showcase featuring Jayda Jean Music, Gaia Music, Miri Hope and Follow the Robin Music with digital art projection by Jagielski Designs.
Performer and ECOSS member Woody Clark said all the performers are local.
“They’ll each be doing a little half hour set, finishing with Jayda and I’m also hoping to do a soul circle, where the four of them are onstage with guitars and do a cover song which speaks to them,” he said.
“With the Creative Victoria funding, we have been able to have lots of artists perform every month, from both locally, down in Melbourne and regional Victoria. We’re really proud to be supporting young female musicians, and supporting the pipeline for the creative industry, which is what the grant was for.”
Mr Clark is the father of Jayda Jean, and they recently held a successful crowdfunding campaign to support the release of Jayda’s debut EP. They have raised $4770 to date, and Jayda will be previewing some of her new music at the showcase.
Mr Clark said he is really excited to see them play.
“I’ve been looking at their showreels and their music and they are really talented, I want everyone to hear them and see what they can put together for this concert,” he said.
“They’ve been starved of opportunity the last couple of years, so to have a local opportunity to perform in front of an appreciative audience feels really meaningful.”
Follow The Robin (aka Stephanie) weaves stories, poetry and metaphorical images into her folk-style-influenced songs while Gaia draws on the genres of pop, rock, indie and folk and adores storytelling.
Tickets for the Female Youth Music Celebration can be purchased here: www.events.humanitix.com/ecoss-youth-music-celebration
Prices are $5 for a youth ticket (Under 25), $10 for a concession, $15 for general admission and $25 for a family of four.
