A new Sunshine Coast music industry event has brought young artists, mentors and families to Beerwah, as The Next Set sells out Beerwah Community Hall.
Hosted by the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (SCMIC), the event was designed for musicians under 18 and brought together emerging artists with established industry professionals for an afternoon of discussion, networking and live performance.
More than 75 people attended the inaugural event, with roundtable sessions covering wellbeing, sustainability in the music industry, business basics and the realities of building a life in music.
The afternoon also included a dedicated networking space for parents and guardians, giving families the chance to speak with SCMIC committee members and industry experts about how to support young artists through a complex industry.
Featured speakers included Phoebe Le Brocque from Social State Entertainment and manager of Serendipiti, Ruth Gardner from 4ZZZ and The Cave Inn, ARIA Award-winning producer Paulie B, artist and counsellor Jordan Lawrence (from Calan Mai), Serendipiti, and SCMIC chair Melissa O’Bryan.
Live showcase sets across the afternoon featured young Sunshine Coast artists Wave Raiders (pictured above), Jemzel (main picture), Karma Police (pictured below) and CorksCrew, giving the event a strong local focus alongside its industry emphasis.
Live sets spotlight Coast’s next generation
Regional Arts Advisor – Music at QMusic, Alex Henriksson, said events like The Next Set offered valuable insight into how the industry can better support young artists in regional communities.
“Holding events like this are so important. Although not every young artist can attend, to get a cross section of what is happening around youth music is a great insight into how we as an industry can do better to support them in their musical careers.
“The attendance was amazing seeing so many parents out there supporting their kids. It takes a community to build something great and this is the beginning of a great community.”
Jordan Lawrence said events like The Next Set gave young musicians access to honest industry insight early in their careers.
“The Next Set was a brilliant initiative – exactly the kind of event our young people need,” he said.
“It was a privilege to spend time with such passionate and talented young minds. I walked away genuinely inspired by their enthusiasm for music, performance and the industry itself. I truly believe that giving young people real, honest insights into the industry early can shape their entire journey.”
SCMIC Chair Melissa O’Bryan said the event gave attendees the chance to learn in an afternoon what can otherwise take years to understand.
“What an incredible event. The expertise in the room allowed the attendees to leapfrog huge learning curves in the future. What took some of us a decade, these attendees had the opportunity to start contemplating in an afternoon!”
What’s next for SCMIC
SCMIC will next turn its focus to the Sunshine Coast Music Awards on Sunday, June 7 at The Shed in Palmview, along with the Song Shed in collaboration with Horizon Festival on May 4.
For more information on SCMIC and to keep up with their events, head to scmic.org.
Photos supplied by SCMIC.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment