Art is... a ‘drive-in’ music festival

Music-lovers will be able to reunite once again in a Wimmera-first attempt at a drivein concert featuring well-known artists from the region.

Organisers of Art is… festival will be among the first in Australia to attempt a concert where musicians perform live to people watching from the comfort of their cars – a style of festival first trialled in Denmark.

Festival and concert organisers around the world believe this style of live performance could be an example of how larger events might look for the foreseeable future, as bans on mass gatherings remain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wergaia and Wemba Wemba singersongwriter Alice Skye, alongside King brothers – lead guitarist Sam and drummer Kane – are set to headline the June 27 show at Horsham Showground.

The brothers will support Skye’s new single and music video ‘Grand Ideas’, a track from her sophomore album ‘I feel Better, But I Don’t Feel Good’, set to be released later in the year.

Skye said the concept for the song was tied in closely with the feeling of being overwhelmed or isolated.

“It comes from a place of feeling really overwhelmed with the things you have to do and what people expect from you – feeling weighed down by everything,” she said.

“I was having a moment and thinking ‘everything I have is out of my control’. I kept saying those words over to myself and started hearing a melody with it. grow up disconnected from that part of yourself, then discovering how important it is, but also needing to be in the city for what I do,” she said.

“I feel really glad I grew up in the country and have that place to return to. It’s such beautiful country.

“Our farm property in the Grampians is quite a special place to me, and sometimes comes up when I’m writing.”

Before lockdowns, the band was gaining international recognition with several shows planned in the United States.

Skye was invited to play as an official showcase artist for South by Southwest in Texas in March before its cancellation.

“I’m excited for when that opportunity comes up again,” she said.

“It seems crazy that we’re now going overseas.

“But I feel very fortunate that I still have opportunities to work and get paid to work – I have a good support network within the industry.”

Art is… festival director Sarah Natali said the performance would give Wimmera music-lovers a chance to come together in an isolated way.

“It will give people a chance for the first time to get out and about again,” she said

“We can’t do live music in the pub. You can reach more people like this, because you’re still isolating but together.

“It’s very important in terms of connection and mental health – isolation can be quite hard on people and lots of people have missed live music.”