More than 20 bands and solo artists are set to roll into cafes, restaurants and bars of Ocean Grove next month for the fifth annual Light of Day Australia Winter Gigs, raising funds and awareness in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease.
Headlining the Antipodean leg of what is part of an international campaign will be Celtic rockers Claymore, Joe Creighton, Jimi Hocking, Kite Machine, 10 High Fly, Dreamboogie, Gallie and Sweet Felicia.
Claymore will be an absolute treat for Winter Gig-goers. This lively gang of sound-wielders is well used to playing big festivals but arguably their multi-instrument sound is most engaging in tight and intimate venues like those in Grove.
Joe Creighton is a huge coup for the organisers. Creighton is arguably one of this country’s finest bass players, but it is his vocals that have cemented him as a formidable talent and front man after stepping out of the shadows playing alongside icons such as Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham.
He first came to prominence in 1976 when he formed the iconic band Billy T with Ross Hannaford of Daddy Cool fame and recorded the album No Definitions.
New to the Light of Day event will be Kite Machine, Geelong’s premier funk rock export.
Last year’s event in Ocean Grove raised $20,000, which was equally, divided between the Shake it Up Foundation and the Light of Day Foundation, which work globally together in pursuit of a cure of Parkinson’s disease.
Also appearing this year will be the Wayne Jury Four, the Big Bash Band, Liam Gerner, SoulEstate, Princess Planet, Zeffa, Jarrod Shaw, We the Radio, Saoirse and Hey Mammoth.
For the first time the winner of the recent Shake the Mic contest, a junior battle of the bands competition, will be appearing on the line up.
The Ocean Grove shows are on Friday 22 June and Saturday 23 June with music playing simultaneously at Piping Hot Chicken Shop and Burger Grill, Driftwood Cafe, Maggie’s Bar and Olive Pit Delicatessen from 6pm.
Tickets are available via trybooking.com, details at www.lightofdayaustralia.com. You can also like and follow the Facebook page lightofdayaustralia or follow on Instagram for regular updates.