In the Green Room: Pocket Rock-It

Congrats on hitting one year of Pocket Rock-It! What’s been one of your favourite memories from the experience so far?

One year of Pocket Rock-it has been so much fun! I've realised I can achieve the things I actually set out to achieve, which has been so beautiful for growing my self-esteem. I think one of my favourite memories would have to be doing promotion for High Fever festival and experiencing the atmosphere of Macclesfield. I loved that festival and the connections I made from it. Overall (not to be a total cliché), I have loved meeting so many people who have brought me to where I am now! I can go to a gig by myself and rely on the fact that I know enough people to inevitably run into another like-minded, lovely human being and never be alone.

Why is supporting local live music so important to you?

I find the more I can support the local community, the more I will get out of it! Local is really important to me, and I have loved taking on my own little project, whether it has a big or small impact. I get excited to support the arts because I know our government sure as hell isn't, and I think it's really important for people to hold physical and live media close to home

You’re celebrating with a gig at TIA Live. What’s the energy you want people to bring to the show?

Fun! It's a gig, you should be bringing loving, positive energy. Duh! Essentially, it will be really laid back. I might chuck a little speech in there, it's meant to be a fun party with friends. Because the gig ends so early, I would love to go on a bit of a pub crawl after with anyone who wants to tag along!

What made The Sundials, Darlington and The Strangers the right fit for this lineup?

Darlington are my friends and they have always made music that has given me a lot of joy! I love it when music makes me feel things emotionally. I am so excited to see the Strangers play, I have only seen them once - but I knew their stage presence would suit the vibe of the show and hopefully draw in some of the younger crowd. I saw the Sundials at High Fever and knew instantly they would be the type of band I could take my mum to see, and when I get mum’s approval, it means it's perfect. The Sundials are so high energy and so free, their music has so much personality that I thought would make the perfect headliner.

What has been your favourite gig/performance you’ve been to?

Hard, hard, hard questions to answer! There have been so many. I think the third gig I ever went to was absolutely one of my favourites. I remember it being a pivotal moment where I realised I really loved the music scene! I met a few of my friends there and made some connections I still value. It was at Arthur Art Bar with The Watchers, Sub Deficit and Order from Chaos. I remember it was a couple days after Ozzy Osbourne died - and Sub Deficit (fronted by Shyla Van Dok at the time) played this amazing cover of ‘War Pigs’ by Black Sabbath. It was transcending! They played ‘Rock n’ Roll’ by Led Zeppelin, and I moshed for the first time and just had so much fun.

READMORE: In the Green Room: Any Young Mechanic

You’ve just started One 4 the Ages. Talk us through what this project is?

One 4 the Ages (or the Ages, as we abbreviate it) is a new initiative linked to Pocket Rock-it and Side Tracked that is run by me and Ark Vyas. We hopped on a phone call one night and discussed how annoying it is that we get home so late after gigs, and taking public transport can be quite scary late at night. We were also discussing the inclusivity in the scene and how venues could improve their ability to be a “safe and accessible space” after a relatively significant issue had surfaced! I was already in the process of investigating how I could make venues more wheelchair accessible and realised we might as well make it a team project.

The Ages is based on bringing the community together (despite the many kahoots that inevitably happen in such a “hive-mind” like scene) to network with, and give a platform to artists seeking a non-judgemental space, as well as inviting any and all ages of audiences to attend gigs that are held in safe third spaces inside and outside the CBD.  We want everyone to feel welcome and supported, and we hope the initiative changes things for the better.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start up a platform like yours?

As Dakota from Band Banta told me before I even started posting online: “Just go for it!” So, from her wisdom to my wisdom to you, literally just post something. Same for any other endeavour, sending out the first message is legitimately all it takes to grow something into a project you will remember forever! 

Do you have any more upcoming projects for this year that you can tell us about?

Two projects! Festival, maybe, but that is a big, big, big, big maybe. In terms of content, I would really love to start a journalist-y report post - something periodical that can come out every fortnight, reporting on current events in the scene that directly affect my audience! I would definitely need writers who are interested :) 

Pocket Rock-It’s all-ages, One Year anniversary gig, featuring The Sundials, Darlington and The Strangers will be held at TIA Live on Saturday 1. Tickets on sale now at humanitix.com.