Wagga's next generation of musicians keep it 'Live Local Original'

Diya Bhengra sings with a warm, earnest voice, switching between English and French as she strums her guitar and shares a bittersweet song about the highs and lows of longing, loneliness and love.

“I’m pretty like new to the whole songwriting thing,” she says.

“I started playing piano when I was eight, and I still do, but I picked up the guitar two years ago and just kind of taught myself and now that’s how I write songs.”

Diya is one of several up-and-coming local talents who will take to the stage when Live Local Original returns to the Civic Theatre this weekend.

“I think it’s really important to have local, original artists playing because we don’t really get much of an opportunity as young artists,” she says.

“I can see that there’s a bit of a deficiency in that zone regarding venues, so I think it’s really great that we’re all getting this opportunity to really be seen and heard.”

Tracey Simond from the Civic Theatre said the idea for Live Local Original emerged during COVID-19 restrictions when touring ground to a halt.

“We did a whole program of events just for local people to try and keep artists in business, our staff in business and live entertainment for our community when we really needed it,” she explains.

“Live Local Original was one of the concerts that we did in that time and audiences just absolutely loved it.”

In the wake of that initial success, the Civic Theatre has partnered with Vicky Burkinshaw and the Curious Rabbit to deliver a series of concerts over the next year.

Live Local Original will feature young artists from across the Riverina performing original songs and arrangements.

“We’re a community theatre, a community building and to get them on our stage and give them that opportunity is what we’re all about,” Tracey says.

Kayne Lyndon is a local musician who also works to support young and emerging musicians.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for young artists to discover themselves and to have that opportunity to express themselves freely in a space where they’re supported,” he says.

“Wagga is an incredible location for arts in our community and in the greater Riverina because there are not many spots that are so arts focused.”

For saxophonist Megan Mundy, it’s a chance to perform the pieces she has worked so hard on during the HSC.

“One of the girls in our quartet and I did our HSC this year and so we came together to play the pieces for our electives,” she says, adding that being part of a group and performing has been a great experience.

“It’s allowed me to extend my range, which has been really good and it will be great to play on Saturday.”

Bassist Mitch Davoren formed the band Gone Fishn’ with a group of school friends and hopes the event will lead to more opportunities.

“It’s actually really engaging to get to play and also to watch other performers,” he says.

“We love performing as a band and we’re hoping to get some more traction with this Civic Theatre gig and hopefully get some more gigs at other local venues.”

For Tracey and the team at the Civic Theatre, that’s exactly what it’s all about.

“Many of them have started over at the Curious Rabbit with smaller audiences, and now we’re progressing them on to a professional stage where they’ll get the experience working with a technical crew and in a big venue under lights,” she says.

“Ultimately it’s about mentoring and equipping them with the tools that they need to make some money out of this talent that they have and start travelling around and doing more gigs!”

For your chance to see the ‘next big thing’ before they hit the mainstream, catch Live Local Original at theWagga Civic Theatre on Saturday 12 November at 7:30 pm.

You can get your tickets here.