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Barnett’s Depreston hit a universal chord in 2015, while Kelly’s contribution has been ongoing, particularly Leaps and Bounds with its memorable visuals of looking over the bridge to the MCG and the clock on the silos.
Edwards credits seeing Robert Cray play in Melbourne with opening his mind to a career in music.Credit: Justin McManus
For Kutcha Edwards and Romy Vager, Kelly’s brilliant From St Kilda To King’s Cross is a longtime favourite. Vager also cites a track by the band named for a certain episode of Neighbours, Scott and Charlene’s Wedding, who have written an ode to the west called Footscray Station.
Down City Streets, written by Ruby Hunter and featured on Archie Roach’s 1992 album Charcoal Lane, is another classic treasured by Edwards. Based on Hunter’s time sleeping rough, the track could be set anywhere in the world. “The power of music is universal,” he says.
While it is the interaction with audiences that makes musicians do what they do, the Mutti Mutti artist says investment in artists is also necessary. A longtime mentor for many Indigenous artists, he feels for small venues such as the Brunswick Ballroom, Memo Music Hall, the Gasometer and George Lane, who are doing it tough. “There needs to be more support for music venues who support local artists,” he says.
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Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp challenges the idea that Melbourne’s music capital status is “self-proclaimed”, saying more tickets are sold to music shows here than anywhere in the country and more tickets are sold to music events than sporting events in the city. Her favourite is the Whitlams’ song Melbourne, which references the rain and street art, both quintessentially of this town.
The City of Melbourne and Federation Square will present six curated events in the Conversation Series in the year ahead in a bigger space, allowing twice as many audience members to attend as last year.
Melbourne-based DJ Adriana.
“We’ll see where we go; being on Valentine’s Day, we really have to focus around love, our love of music and our love of this city and how music brings people together,” says Gill. “I think that’s the underlying message.”
Love Song Dedications to Melbourne is on February 14 at Federation Square. Tickets are free; registration is essential here.
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