THE People Place Music Club’s ‘Big as Texas Concert’ is getting bigger each year. Organiser Jamez Harrison said preparations for the fourth annual concert to be held next month are well underway.
Mr Harrison said five peninsula music clubs get together each year for a good old fashioned hoedown.
“The concert features a mixture of porch music, folk, blues, country music and basically all kinds of music,” he said.
The bill includes The Chris Newman Show, Veranda Music Club, Peninsula Folk Club, Fathers of the Chapel, Berwick Music Club and The People Place Music Club members.
The People Place Music Club – much like Cuba’s legendary Buena Vista Social Club – is a welcoming place for musicians to meet and exchange ideas, play together and encourage the less experienced to get up on stage.
“We have had everything from carpenters ‘playing’ hacksaws to 90-year-old strippers,” Mr Harrison said.
It is to be hoped the two acts do not share a stage at the same time for health and safety reasons.
The club was established 15 years ago and Mr Harrison, a livewire 60 year old, has been involved for the past four years after retirement.
“I love it – it’s a great way to meet so many enthusiastic people who have talent in musical spades.”
He also volunteers to visit nursing homes and psychiatric institutions to“try to cheer people up” by playing banjo, piano, keyboards and several other instruments.
He’s a veritable one-man band and force of cheerful nature.
“I also go busking in Frankston. I haven’t got much money but I’ve been very blessed in life,” Mr Harrison said.
“Much as I love Judge Judy, I couldn’t face sitting at home every day watching daytime TV after I retired.”
– Tickets for The People Place Music Club’s ‘Big As Texas’ concert to be held on Sunday 20 July, 1pm-4.30pm at Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre, 26 Mahogany Ave, Frankston North are available for $8 each (concessions $6).
Call 9786 1445. All proceeds go to the peninsula music clubs to help with running costs.
See a preview of the Big As Texas concert on Frankston TV’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com
