:: Naked In The Woods concert - Victorian Arts Centre - August 2009

By: Megan Burke

FReeZACentral is a Victorian Government initiative aimed to give budding music industry Victorian young adults a helping hand by providing accredited learning and mentorships. It’s run by The Push and Mushroom Marketing, and the program is “designed to help young people learn more about the career opportunities that exist within the industry, by providing opportunities to meet industry professionals and get hands on training and experience.”

The launch of the mentorship’s compilation CD coincided with the 2009 graduating class. Some of you may remember Milly Edwards (who now goes by the name of Milly Moodie), ninth-runner up in the 2005 Australian Idol? She was one of the graduating class and acted as MC of the graduation. She describes the program as, “walking into a nurturing music environment”. Milly also used the word “safe house” to describe the program and it’s easy to see why. The comrade and support from the program and the mentors is second-to-none; the students given a rare, insightful look into the music industry and hopefully at the other end they come out with credentials and contacts.

The program as whole is a fantastic opportunity for young, emerging artists to learn new skills and make contacts. The pure calibre of the talent, not only performing artists but also music event management, music business, marketing and publicity and technical, shows this is truly an incredible program that the Government supports.

It was slightly disappointing to see the highlighting put on Katy Steele (of Little Birdy fame). Her name was in the marquee; it headlined posters and the tickets. It was if the concert was about her, instead of celebrating the release of FReeZACentral’s compilation CD, Naked In The Woods. Similarly, at the concerts, only one mentor and one mentoree sung with Steele (the mentoree changed at each concert; the mentor was Jen Cloher at each concert). It would have been better if the emphasis had been on the fantastic artists whose hard work went into making the CD. It would have been interesting to know the ratio of Little Birdy fans to FReeZACentral’s supporters at the concerts.

For the show at The Arts Centre, Sophia Katos was the support act. Katos has a wide vocal range clearly showed. Her energy, enthusiasm and ease on stage made her seem a seasoned pro, rather than a recent graduate of the FReeZACentral program. Although some of the high notes were painful, the low powerful notes were hit; a joy to listen to.

Jen Cloher displayed a wide range of talent, beginning with a more pop-esque sound to ending with something reminiscent of Sarah Blasko. It was also refreshing to see a multi-talented artist (as well as singing, Cloher played the keyboard and guitar). Cloher also sung an absolutely beautiful rendition of Love Hurts. Her almost haunting voice was perfect.

Katy Steele was, as one expects, flawless. Her instantly recognisable, distinctive vocals were put to brilliant display through a number of Little Birdy hits, such as ‘Relapse’ and ‘Beautiful To Me’. With a simple “Hello” to the audience, she picked up her guitar and launched right into singing. She put her own spin on an Aretha Franklin classic, and also showed multi-talented display by playing the electric guitar, guitar and keyboard.

The actual CD, Naked In The Woods, has been given out free at the concerts. The nineteen tracks include both Jen Cloher and Little Birdy, as well as an assortment of mentors and mentorees. Slightly jazz, easy listening, and fantastic vocals and arrangements makes this an instant hit. Listen from start to finish and then start again. You cannot actually pick any stand out tracks as all are fantastic.