Seven bands set to rock Inverloch stage

Seven bands will grace the Inverloch Soundshell stage for ‘Bands in the Glade’ on Sunday, October 25.

The event will run alongside the Inverloch Lions Community Farmers Market, which opens at 8pm.

Each band will play for half an hour, with quick changeovers to keep the music going throughout the morning.

First up will be the Wonthaggi Citizens Youth Band, followed by the Wonthaggi Citizens Band and South Gippsland Brass Band. Box Hill City Band and Footscray Yarraville City Band will then take the stage, before Warragul Municipal Band and the City of Traralgon Band close the program.

The event is completely free, and attendees can expect plenty of variety.

Organiser Michael Jongebloed said the bands’ music would range from movie themes and Queen songs to disco and other familiar tunes.

Mr Jongebloed is a Victorian Bands League executive committee member and wanted to bring bands to Inverloch after growing up there.

He has strong roots in the community, beginning his music career at Wonthaggi Technical School and playing with the Wonthaggi Citizens Band when he was younger.

After seeing bands gather for events elsewhere in Victoria, such as Bandstand Sunday at Federation Square in Melbourne’s CBD, he thought the Soundshell in Inverloch would be a great place to bring them during a market day.

“I thought, well, let’s try and do a similar thing with an audience there and let’s bring some bands together to play some music,” he said.

The bands have been encouraged to arrive early, listen to one another and support the other performers.

Mr Jongebloed hopes the day will introduce more people to music in the region.

“All the bands are really excited,” he said.

Inverloch Lions Club marketing director Rod Pettit said visitors would be able to browse the market while the bands played.

The club has musical performers at its monthly markets, but this time bands will be travelling from across Gippsland and Melbourne.

“There will be some chairs for the audience, but if people could bring their own deck chair, absolutely, that would certainly help,” Mr Pettit said.

‘Bands in the Glade’ will be held at the Soundshell in the Glade, Inverloch, on Sunday, October 25.

Entry is free.