Blue Mountains Theatre supports local bands with live music opportunities

Blue Mountains Theatre is partnering with Retro Rehash this April to set up the live music event, Sounds of our Towns - Mountains Getdown, in which six local bands will perform at the Theatre for the first time.

The gigs will feature local bands and emerging talent from the region, curated by the Sounds of our Towns (SOOT) creator Willem Robert Hendricksen.

SOOT emerged last September as a new cultural innovation aiming to reduce feelings of community disconnection during lockdown, by sharing and promoting local music playlists. The playlists were promoted on posters around the mountains and accessed by QR code.

SOOT, sponsored by Toolo, received broad support from local businesses and musicians. Toolo’s founder Justin Morrissey described the project as “a great way to provide new audiences for musicians who have experienced massive upheaval due to cancelled gigs”.

Inspired by the SOOT initiative, the live gigs in April will celebrate the return of dancefloors with a line-up of energetic, up-and-coming acts.

The Sounds of our Towns - Mountains Get Down is the first evolution for SOOT, from curated playlist platform, to live event presentation in a professional venue.

The bands will be supported by the production team at the Blue Mountains Theatre and offered rehearsal slots to prepare for the big night. Blue Mountains Theatre will also be engaging young people from local high schools through an industry partnership program, offering them experience in event and technical production.

The Blue Mountains Theatre hosts a range of performances across the year. This project is part of a new initiative to provide opportunities to showcase local talent.

The Blue Mountains Theatre Venue Manager Louise Hales advises “this partnership supports developing artists and grows youth audiences in the region. This venue is really for the whole community and from orchestra to punk rock there is something here to enjoy.”

Tickets for the Sounds of our Towns - Mountains Get Down are $20/$25 and can be purchased from bluemountainstheatre.com.au.  Doors open 7pm for a 7:30 start.

Vol 1. Friday 8th April
- Sin Cartera,
- Cammy Cautious and the Wrestlers, and
- Funky Horns with special guests

Vol 2. Friday 29th April 
- Trash Baby,
- PYLOTS EYE
- Large Mirage for Volume 2

Image: Large Mirage. Courtesy Blue Mountains City Council Credit @theundergroundstage