Six South Australian emerging live music acts have been given the opportunity of a lifetime as they prepare to join Robbie Williams, Cold Chisel, and +LIVE+ onstage at the 2018 Adelaide 500.
Delivered through Music SA and Adelaide 500’s Bands On Track partnership aimed at delivering real performance and development opportunities to South Australian musicians, this year’s program will see six of Adelaide’s finest groups perform alongside some of the biggest names in international music.
Joining the ‘Made in SA’ showcase event on the Friday 2nd March night and playing alongside Cold Chisel, Kasey Chambers, and previous Bands On Track winners, Bad//Dreems, is powerhouse alt country duo Hana & Jessie-Lee, and tempered rock and roll trio Donnarumma.
On the Saturday 3rd March night of Adelaide 500, one of the planets most potent alternative rock acts +LIVE+ and the ARIA winning alternative rock favourites Birds of Tokyo, will be supported by South Australia’s most prominent hard blues rock band Kitchen Witch, and the explosive punk rockers Young Offenders, recently named on the list of “2018 most promising Australian acts” by national media company themusic.com.au.
Hybrid pop-rockers Neon Tetra will join the soulful and delicate singer songwriter Ollie English in warming up the stage for one of the biggest international superstars Robbie Williams, who will conclude the Adelaide 500 concert series in a special headline performance on Sunday 4th March, supported by Australian indie-Pop band Sheppard.
Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay Weatherill, said that the Adelaide 500 Bands On Track initiative is another fantastic example of how South Australia is offering international opportunities to the local music sector.
“Adelaide is a designated UNESCO City of Music and we are constantly recognised a thriving live music hotspot. The Adelaide 500 concerts create an opportunity for local musicians to be ambassadors for the industry, taking part in an internationally flavoured event that is a major fixture in the live music calendar,” he said.
Music SA’s General Manager Lisa Bishop is delighted that the Bands On Track partnership is returning for another year to support South Australian musicians. She was thrilled to see over 100 bands submit an entry, culminating in a stellar group selected by a judging panel of music industry representatives.
“Bands On Track initiative has been a special long standing partnership with Adelaide 500. It showcases the incredible talent produced by a growing and vibrant music industry in SA. This is a rare career defining opportunity for local artists to perform on a large stage, to a highly receptive crowd and with an outstanding level of technical sound and lighting support”.
Previous Bands On Tracks winners have included SA Music Award winners including The Beards, Bad//Dreems, Grenadiers, Wanderers, Lazy Eye and Koolta.