In the Green Room: Don't Be A Stranger

Don't be a stranger! Tell us about yourself and this project.

I'm Tiana, a third-year music student with a lifelong love for music. I've always been a fangirl and have loved going to concerts, but as I got older, I became more interested in the magic that happens behind the scenes. I started paying more attention to the people, work and challenges that go into making the music industry happen, and I realised that was the area I wanted to be a part of.

Don't Be A Stranger originally started as an idea for my final-year major project at uni, but as it has developed, I've realised it's something I'd love to continue beyond university. The project is all about encouraging people to get out, go to gigs, discover local artists and become more connected with the Adelaide music community. I've also been working with my friend, Madasyn, on the marketing side of the project, which has been really fun and has helped bring some new ideas on how we promote the event. 

Your mission is to "support local acts and go to gigs". What draws you to supporting the Adelaide music scene?

After organising a gig at uni during my first year, I got to see just how much amazing talent we have right here in Adelaide. That experience made me want to start going to more local gigs and support artists.

It initially started with going to my uni mates’ gigs, which introduced me to other bands and artists. From there, it kind of spiralled - I'd discover one artist, then another, and suddenly I had a whole list of local gigs I wanted to go to.

It made me realise that Adelaide has such a strong and diverse music scene. 

Your debut gig is slated for October 2 at The Austral, a disco-themed gig with local acts performing and activities across the night. Talk us through what the event will look like!

The whole idea was to create a fun night that feels like more than just going to see a few bands. When brainstorming venues, I saw The Austral. My partner actually came up with the idea of doing a disco theme after seeing the disco balls they already had there. From there, the whole idea just grew, and it felt like the perfect way to create a fun and memorable night (also without having to spend a fortune on decorations). 

There'll be of course local live music throughout the night, along with fun photo opportunities, little souvenirs and activities for people to get involved with. I’m also encouraging everyone to dress up and really get into the disco theme, with prizes for best dressed. I really want the event to feel welcoming and memorable, somewhere people can come with their friends, meet new people, discover new music and just have a really good night.

Ultimately, I want people to leave with a good memory and hopefully feel a little more connected to the local music scene than they did when they arrived.

 READ MORE: In the Green Room: Heaps Good Friends

Destinezia, The Selenes and Greasy are on the bill. Why were these acts perfect for the show?

Honestly, I'm just genuinely obsessed with all three bands! I saw Greasy earlier this year and completely fell in love with their vibe. The Selenes have such a cool energy and presence, while Destinezia are incredibly fun, and I absolutely love their music.

I also wanted to bring together artists who have similar energy but still offer something different. I think that creates a really interesting lineup because you can have audiences coming along for one particular band and then discovering another artist they might not have listened to before.

A big part of Don’t Be A Stranger is about connecting different audiences and communities, so I loved the idea of having these three acts share the stage and hopefully introduce each other’s audiences to something new.

What sort of people should rock up to this show?

EVERYONE AND ANYONE! If you're already a massive supporter of the Adelaide music scene, come along. If you've never been to a local gig before, come along. If you just want something fun to do on a Friday night, come along! That's kind of the point, just don’t be a stranger!

What's next for Don’t Be A Stranger?

I definitely want Don't Be A Stranger to keep growing beyond this first event. This gig is really just the beginning, and I’d love to work towards bigger and better events, collaborations and ways of getting people involved with the local music scene.

I want to keep creating opportunities for people to discover local artists while also making gigs feel accessible, exciting and welcoming. Hopefully, Don't Be A Stranger can become something that continues to connect audiences with artists and encourages people to get out and support the incredible talent we have here in Adelaide.

For now, I’m just really excited to see where it goes!

Catch Destinezia, The Selenes and Greasy performing as part of Don't Be A Stranger's Friday Night Fever at The Austral Hotel on Friday 2 October. Tickets on sale now at moshtix.com.au.